How Can Technology Support Dog Shelters in Behavioral Assessment: an Exploratory Study

Abstract

Animal shelters deal with many challenges: they are understaffed, overcrowded, run on limited budgets and have very limited resources. An important issue in this context is behavioral assessment and screening of behaviour, temperament and personality of animals in shelters. Technological solutions, and specifically AI, have the potential to support shelters in these challenges. This, however, calls for better understanding the potential benefits of technology in the context of shelter dogs’ behavioral assessment and evaluation, as well as barriers to its adoption. This paper reports on our ongoing exploratory study, which focuses on perceptions and attitudes of shelter officials in Israel with respect to technological solutions supporting behavioral assessment.