Behavior assessments are just one component of a shelter's overall behavior program. You can read more about them from industry experts such as Maddie's Fund and the ASPCA.

You can think of assessments as a grading chart for specific items. To create one, go to Configurations > Behavior Management > Behavior Assessments and click the 'Create New Assessment' button. Enter a name for the assessment and select a species. Then you can start adding items using the blue 'Create a New Assessment Item' button.

Example Plan: Observation

Item: Kennel Presence
Answers: A, B, C, D, F

Item: Affiliation
Answers: A, B, C, D, F

Item: Manners
Answers: A, B, C, D, F

Item: Handling
Answers: A, B, C, D, F

Item: Activity Level
Answers: Very High, High, Moderate, Low

Item: Formal Evaluation Necessary?
Answers:

• No, no concerns noted.
• Yes, due to concerns in behavioral history.
• Yes, due to concerns in both observations and history.
• Yes, due to shelter observations.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you edit the configuration of a behavior assessment after it has already been added to an animal record, it will also retroactively update the assessments that have been completed in the past.

For example, if you were to change the Activity Level item mentioned above from Very High, High, Moderate, and Low to scores 1-4, any previously completed assessments will have their answers updated to the corresponding number that has taken the place of the previously used word score. 

We recommend adding a new assessment rather than editing the configuration of an existing assessment if you will be making changes that could negatively impact prior assessments once updated.