How we assess and rehabilitate a SAD dog:

 

  • The potential SAD dog is fully health checked and examined by our vet.

  • The dog is assessed behaviourally by our dog trainer.

  • An independent SAD volunteer assesses the dog in terms of suitability and potential for homing.

  • Any dog with incurable health or behavioural issues is refused

  • A SAD rehabilitation programme specifically tailored to the dog is created to encompass and treat any health or behavioural issues that need addressing.

  • The SAD dog is now vaccinated, wormed, and treated for external parasites by our vet.

  • It then commences a 7 day isolation period to allow it to respond to the vaccinations in a SAD foster home. During this week the SAD foster family sends us all important first feedback on how the dog is in a home environment.

  • Profile pictures are taken and a profile created on the SAD website and advertising posters are made.

  • Once the isolation period is over the dog is free to rotate between the SAD kennel spaces at the American Veterinary Clinic (AVC) kennels in Musaffah and SAD foster homes.  We usually rotate the dogs in 2 week blocks between the kennels and SAD foster homes depending on the availability of fosterers.

  • During kennel periods the AVC kennel staff constantly assesses each dog and ensures they are exercised daily and interacted with. They are also bathed and weighed regularly.

  • SAD volunteers go to the kennels every day to collect a SAD dog and take it for a walk. This gives the dogs a break from the confines of kenneling, boosts moral and is great for continued training.

  • During periods in foster homes our volunteers do “in-house training” set out in the individual dogs tailor made training program. This might include re-enforcement of house training, crate training, and basic commands like sit/stay/come.

  • SAD dogs also take part in dog training classes to work on their basic training and socialization. Foster families transport them to and from class and handle the dog as if they were the owner.

  • Behavioural issues relayed back to SAD from our volunteer walkers and fosterers are duly noted and the training program adjusted to address these.