We are pleased to share this news...

The ASPCA is proud to announce that the SAFER™ (Safety Assessment For Evaluating Rehoming) canine aggression assessment tool is now a program of the ASPCA. SAFER was originally developed by Dr. Emily Weiss, C.A.A.B, and offered through EWC, Inc. Dr. Weiss joined the ASPCA as Senior Director of Shelter Behavior Programs in 2005.

Since it first started being implemented in shelters in 1999-2000, the SAFER assessment has helped animal welfare professionals all over the country identify potential aggression and opportunities for behavior modification—which ultimately leads to more adoptions through appropriate placement.

The ASPCA is incorporating SAFER into the first phase of its Meet Your Match™ Canine-ality™ adoption program; As such, the SAFER training curriculum is currently being updated, and will soon be brought to you in a new and improved format.

As you know, the ASPCA®'s Meet Your Match™, which includes Canine-ality™, Puppy-ality™ and Feline-ality™, matches dogs, puppies and cats to pet parents based on science rather than speculation. Shelters using the ASPCA®'s Meet Your Match™ report reduced return rates, better customer service and increased adoptions; and the use of this science-based methodology also helps them to better highlight the animals they have available for adoption .

So—what does this mean for shelters currently using SAFER? Well, with SAFER becoming an ASPCA program, it gives us opportunities to save far more lives through the ASPCA's national reach—and that is a development we are extremely excited about. If you are already using SAFER, please continue to do so, and contact the ASPCA if you have more questions, or for future training. We will be announcing updates periodically, and will include you in any mailings we send out.

Here are answers to some other questions you may have:

•  Does this mean our shelter has to implement MYM in order to use SAFER? No. SAFER is being offered as part of the MYM program and is part of the MYM Canine-ality Adoption Program Training Series, which is available to any shelter. It is up to each individual shelter to decide which programs best meet their needs. You may certainly choose to use SAFER without implementing the rest of Meet Your Match™, though we strongly encourage you to learn more about how Meet Your Match™ can help you reach your adoption goals.

•  Will the SAFER Certification still be available from the ASPCA? Yes. All those interested in certification must first attend a SAFER training. Once trained, individuals must send us a VHS or DVD showing three dogs being tested, along with the completed SAFER worksheets and the certification fee. The fee covers two certification submissions.

•  What if I have already attended a SAFER training and want to become certified? The certification process is still in place. Submission of tapes for certification should be sent to:

Wanda Echevarria, National Outreach Office Manager
ASPCA
110 5 th Ave , 2 nd Floor
New York , NY 10011

•  What if we want to attend a training? We will soon be announcing a SAFER workshop schedule, so please check www.aspca.org/meetyourmatch frequently for upcoming training dates and locations.

•  What if I still have questions? Please feel free to contact us at outreach@aspca.org .