The Coastal Humane Society is launching a new behavior modification program for shelter dogs and offering classes to improve the lives of dogs while they’re in the shelter.
Shelter officials said the classes will help dogs get adopted when people see how talented and well-behaved they are, while also allowing shelter officials to serve as an “animal behavior education resource.”
Sara Sokol, a “canine behavior modification trainer,” will start classes this month, according to Jane Siviski, marketing and development coordinator at Coastal Humane Society.
The shelter is offering a host of new obedience classes to community members throughout January.
Siviski said Sokol taught obedience, trained volunteers and staff, and performed behavior evaluations at the Pasadena Humane Society in California, and again as the district manager at the Connecticut Humane Society, where she created behavior and enrichment programs, ran the dog transport program and implemented programs to help staff with compassion fatigue.
Sokol also began a “Doga” class, which “enhances the human-dog bond by combining simple yoga poses with basic obedience commands,” according to a news release from the shelter.
When Sokol and her husband moved to Maine, she began looking for behavior jobs at openadmission shelters.
“I was immediately impressed with the programs and resources that CHS provides its animals and the community, and knew it would be an organization I would be proud to work for,” Sokol said.
CHS’s program will be geared toward reducing dog surrenders and returns by offering private training and behavior modification to the community at a reduced rate and by daily behavior modification and training for shelter dogs.
In the future, the shelter will also launch a behavior hotline anyone can call to get free pet behavior advice.
Ultimately, the behavior classes “will reduce the length of time each dog spends at the shelter,” Coastal Humane Society Executive Director Karen Stimpson said. “The program is aimed at making our dogs healthier, happier and more adoptable.
“Though we pride ourselves on the care we give all our animal residents, this will be a huge step in enriching the lives of shelter dogs while they’re at CHS,” Stimpson said.
Classes begin mid January and include Basic, Family Dog, Intermediate, Puppy, Tricks for Treats, and Doga. Fees range from $55 to $110.
For more information, visit www.coastalhumanesociety.org/obedience.
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