Foothills Animal Shelter Dog Safety Quiz

The off-leash dog yards should never have more than one dog present. Please ask the volunteer to leash the dog and vacate the yard or stay in the on-leash yard until one of the off-leash yards are available.

There are towels located in the laundry room to clean up any accidents on the way out the door.

Volunteers need to maintain at least 5 feet of space between dogs at all times. Even kennel mates like to have solo time and attention every morning!

There are many reasons for dogs being marked as "No Kids":
Fearful and shy dogs can be overwhelmed by the energy, movements, and lack of respect some kids show.
Over-exuberant and Jumpy/Mouthy dogs can harm kids by bowling them down unintentionally.
Some dogs may have a history of not enjoying kids in their previous home.

All behavior concerns should be written on an index card (found near the Volunteer check in computer) and then placed in the appropriate bin on Steph B.'s office door. It is important to address the behavior as early as possible so the behavior team can create a training plan.

The board outside of healthcare is the hub for any medical concerns. You should also notify members of the front staff in the event of serious health concerns.

It is not okay to pass other dogs in the hallways for the safety of the dogs and handlers. It is too tight a space with no escape for all involved.

True -- every walker must carry a cell phone and an ICE card (these cards are found above the volunteer check in computer).

True!! Keeping the dog kennels clean is a team effort! Everyone should pitch in and help with this task. Only use water when spot cleaning -- chemicals should NEVER be used to spot clean!

Leashes can tangle, incidental hallway interactions become difficult to negotiate and even the best buddies get in tiffs every once in awhile! This is why volunteers need to walk one dog at a time.

The shelter environment can be very stressful for dogs, and it's unfair to ask them to be perfect little leash walkers. They only get out briefly each day and are probably excited to get some fresh air, stretch their legs and get a bathroom break. NEVER jerk the leash or yell at the dogs...that's just not nice!

If you are uncertain whether or not the pavement is safe for the dog's paws, use the back of your hand and hold it on the pavement for 7 seconds. If you can't stand the heat, it will be too hot for the dog!

Typically dogs with yellow cards have advanced behavior needs - this may be their size and strength, Jumpy/Mouthy or fearful behavior.

During the Shelter's open hours, dog walkers should only walk on the small track in the back so the staff can quickly find a dog if the public requests a "meet and greet." Be sure to limit the time the dog is out of the kennel to 30 minutes, too!

Nothing is worse than a loose dog! It's heartbreaking for the individual who loses the dog, the other volunteers and staff, and puts additional stress on the dog. Foothills Animal Shelter utilizes slip-leads to help avoid this scenario.

It is very important to follow the guidelines for taking out puppies. The younger pups are not fully vaccinated and need to limit their exposure in order to avoid health issues like parvovirus.

Please respect the campers and their personal dog's privacy by steering clear of the campground while walking dogs. Jeffco is very gracious in letting us explore the rest of fairgrounds!

Community Water Bowls are never a good idea due to the high risk of cross contamination in a shelter environment. Feel free to bring a portable water bowl on hot days, but these must also be cleaned in between dogs!

Foothills requires all dog walkers to wait at least 60 days before participating in more advanced dog roles. Bring A Buddy and Offsite Walks require at least 16 hours of dog walking at the Shelter first. Boredom Busters also requires additional training by an approved Boredom Busters trainer, in addition to the 60 days / 16 hours.

Behavior modification training and evaluations are typically in progress if the door is closed, and people entering the room abruptly can jeopardize the progress of that particular dog. During evaluations the dog's behavior is usually unknown, which can be an unsafe environment for uninvited visitors. This is for the safety of you and the dogs! Please make sure you get the green light before entering.

Two dogs should never be in the off-leash yards together -- not even roommates! Dogs can react very differently depending on the setting, so we always err on the side of safety.

During morning cleaning, we should never walk dogs through the chemicals. So, when the inner hallway is being cleaned, please take the dogs out from the front of the kennels. All other times, please do take dogs out of their kennels from the back. Only one dog at a time should be present in the inner hallway, too!

Not even Golden Retrievers are exempt from the 5 foot rule. This rule is for the safety of the volunteers and the dogs. Even though the dogs on the adoptable floor have successfully passed a dog-to-dog in their behavioral assessment, every situation and every new dog can be different. THE 5 FOOT RULE includes patrons' and the general public's dogs!

Volunteers who have been trained as "Leads" -- either Doggercise Leads or Kennel Leads -- are trained to update the Dog Walk board. No other volunteers should make changes to the board.