ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center

In March 2013, the ASPCA established the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center as a pilot program at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey. This center was the first of its kind, focusing on the behavioral rehabilitation of severely fearful and unadoptable dogs, including those rescued from puppy mills and hoarding situations. Following the success of the pilot program, which graduated 237 dogs over four years, the ASPCA expanded its efforts by constructing a permanent facility in Weaverville, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility can accommodate up to 65 dogs at once and features a dormitory as well as multiple teaching spaces for shelter professionals to learn behavior modification techniques. This training aims to assist behaviorally challenged dogs nationwide in becoming suitable for adoption. The program is open to homeless dogs of various ages and backgrounds, provided they are physically healthy and meet specific behavioral criteria for inclusion. Only dogs with such severe fear that it impacts their quality of life and makes adoption difficult or impossible are accepted. The Weaverville facility includes individual kennels, "real-life rooms" to acclimate dogs to home-like environments, outdoor play areas, and a large indoor training area where behaviorists and trainers work with the dogs. Rehabilitation typically requires an average of 13 weeks, although the duration can vary significantly based on the severity of each dog's behavioral issues and their responsiveness to treatment. Once the dogs complete the program, the rehabilitated graduates are placed within a network of partner shelters and rescue groups for adoption or direct placement.