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  • 1.  Ideas for Housing Barrier Reactive Dogs on the Adoption Floor

    Posted 03-21-2023 04:58 PM

    Does anyone have ideas for creating a visual cover for the bottom half of a glass wall at the front of a canine enclosure?

    We have 25 small room enclosures on our adoption floor (we refer to them as suites). The front wall facing out on the floor is made of glass. Most of our population does okay with barrier reactivity and adjusts to being in these suites. However, we always get the ones who are barrier reactive with other dogs. And having a glass suite that offers them repeated visuals on other dogs is repeatedly triggering their reactivity. We currently have two suites that have frosted glass on the bottom half. This way the public can still view the dog but the dog cannot see passing animals. There has been much discussion between my executive staff and me on the benefits or pitfalls of frosting more suites. We have not been able to come to a mutual agreement on this, so any permanent solutions are not possible at the moment. 

    I am looking into more temporary options that can be used on dog to dog basis. I've thought about looking into frosted contact paper or something along those lines. I'm aware there's spray you can get as well, but I don't know how easily that can be removed. In dire situations our Adoptions staff have taped up newspaper, but obviously that does not look the nicest.

    I would love to have the staffing and resources to work with the dog on barrier reactivity, but I unfortunately do not. So any ideas or help for creating a barrier cover would be much appreciated!


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
    #Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment

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    Sarah Reida
    Behavior Department Manager
    Kansas Humane Society
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  • 2.  RE: Ideas for Housing Barrier Reactive Dogs on the Adoption Floor

    Posted 03-21-2023 05:13 PM

    Maybe you could make cheap frames of plastic flannel-backed table clothes stapled to thin flat pieces of wood (top and bottom, no sides), glue magnets to the 4 corners of the frame and to the glass (if you put the magnets together after glueing one side to wood frame, glue on the other side and then stick to the glass, you wouldn't have to measure).  Using table clothes and wood on the top and bottom would allow you to roll them up for storage and the magnets on the glass wouldn't be unsightly - most people won't even notice them.  Hope this helps.



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    Sabrina Hill
    Aide 2 Adoption Rescue
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  • 3.  RE: Ideas for Housing Barrier Reactive Dogs on the Adoption Floor

    Posted 03-21-2023 05:18 PM
    Hi Sarah,
    I'd recommend either an opaque barrier (e.g. https://www.wallpaperforwindows.com/) or a modified shower curtains (you might be able to get donations from hotels).  

    Kind regards,

     

    Sheila

    Sheila Segurson, DVM, DACVB

    (She/Her/Hers)

    Director of Community Solutions

    > Click here to meet with Sheila

    Mobile // +925.860.8284

    Time Zone // Pacific

    Let's help keep pets and people together! 



  • 4.  RE: Ideas for Housing Barrier Reactive Dogs on the Adoption Floor

    Posted 03-22-2023 06:34 AM

    Seconding reusable window clings and modified shower curtains! 

    Fun colors might also help these pups stand out?

    At my shelter, I had a lot of help making and testing kennel barriers from our genius volunteer team. Would highly recommend reaching out to them for support and ideas! :) 



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    Heather Kalman (she/her), CPDT-KA, SBA, ABCDT
    Research and Development Data Coordinator
    American Pets Alive!, Human Animal Support Services
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  • 5.  RE: Ideas for Housing Barrier Reactive Dogs on the Adoption Floor

    Posted 03-22-2023 11:25 AM

    Hey there! We have glass front rooms at our shelter. and also use frosted glass to cover a few of them. Our most visually appealing option for temporary barriers is to hang shower curtains on the outside of the glass, attached to suction cup hooks. The only downfall to this is that the public will sometimes pull it back to see inside but, is you are only hanging on the bottom half of the glass to block the bottom visual, I wouldn't think that would be an issue as your visitors would still be able to see inside of the room. 



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    Amber Cabell
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