On the heels, or should we say paws, of the successful implementation of the ASPCA Meet Your Match Canine-ality program at Larimer Humane Society, the shelter has also recently implemented Feline-ality, the latest addition to the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match adoption programs that include research-based animal behavior assessments—all aimed at increasing adoption rates, and reducing return rates at shelters.

How Was It Created?
To create Feline-ality, the ASPCA conducted 2 years of research. The first two phases of research focused on prediction of cat behavior. The third and final phase was beta testing the entire matching process. Five shelters beta tested the program: Animal Refuge League, Portland, Maine; Kansas Humane Society, Wichita, Kan.; Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Boulder, Colo.; Animal Welfare Association, Voorhees, N.J.; and the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Adopters do choose animals outside their recommended color range but with the Meet Your Match tools they go home with the right expectations to make a good match regardless.
 
How Does It Work?
Like Canine-ality does for dogs, Feline-ality identifies distinct “feline-alities” for cats, and matches them with potential adopters whose personality and lifestyle fit them best. Meet Your Match Feline-ality uses research-based surveys and behavior assessments, both for cats and potential adopters, to make the best matches possible between the two. The cat assessment reliably predicts, based on its “feline-ality,” how an individual cat is likely to behave in its new home. An adopter’s survey identifies the adopter’s personal preferences and lifestyle that correlate with specific feline-alities. Adopters can then look for the cats with feline-alities that would be a good fit for their household and identify them by colors and feline-ality descriptions.

For example, a cat with a green color-coded description would be a “Party Animal”, “MVP” or “Leader of the Band.” Green cats are savvy, unflappable and adventurous. A cat with an orange classification makes a great companion cat, and would be called a “Sidekick,” “Executive” or “Personal Assistant.” A cat with a purple classification is one that seeks affection, is quiet and stays out of trouble. It could be called a “Secret Admirer,” “Love Bug” or “Private Investigator.”

Are You Ready to Adopt?
When clients visit the cat adoption room at Larimer Humane Society they are able to read the colorful Feline-ality descriptions for each cat and then visit with those that might be their match. In addition, some of the adoptable cats are also photographed with a colored bandana, matching their personality, for the website which can assist potential adopters before they visit the shelter.

View adoptable cats and kittens looking for their loving new homes!

How Was It Created?

It was first developed and tested by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Emily Weiss for the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita. The underlying goal of the program is to increase the likelihood that adopted shelter dogs will match the lifestyles of their new families.

How Does It Work?

To find the Canine-ality™ of each dog, Larimer Humane Society staff and volunteers administer five tests that identify friendliness, playfulness, energy level, motivation and basic manners.
The dogs are then placed into one of three categories:

• Easy (purple)
• Average (orange)
• High maintenance (green)

Puppies under 6 months go through a similar test called Puppy-ality™.

Each dog is also given a description based on their source of motivation. Socially motivated dogs will work for human contact and attention. (Life of the Party, Goofball, and Constant Companion) Internally motivated dogs are motivated by things that are difficult to control. They tend to be more independent dogs. (Free Spirit, Wallflower, and Couch Potato) Externally motivated dogs will learn best when trying to earn human contact, treats and toy time. (Go-getter, Busy Bee, and Teacher’s Pet)

Are You Ready to Adopt?

Come visit us and complete the simple Meet Your Match survey. This will help you to identify how you envision a new dog fitting into your home and family. Following a review of the survey, our staff will give you a color-coded Guest Pass and direct you to the dogs that match your color.This will ensure the best match for both you and the dogs.

View adoptable dogs and puppies looking for their loving new homes!

When inquiring about adoptable pets, it is best to come to the shelter in person to meet the animal.

If you are emailing us regarding an animal you are interested in, there may be a 1 to 2 day turn-around time in replying. By then, the animal may have been adopted.

Photos & descriptions of adoptable animals are automatically updated every hour.

Larimer Humane Society receives hundreds of exotic pets and farm animals every year.

Dogs

Cats

Other  (Includes rabbits, small animals, birds, reptiles and farm animals at Larimer Humane Society)

Click here for additional additional information and resources about adoptable exotic and farm animals

Have you wondered why our adoptable dogs and cats have different colors of cage cards and are wearing purple, orange, or green bandanas in their pictures on the website?  The answer is the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match Adoption Program.  In June 2005 Larimer Humane Society implemented the program for dogs called Canine-ality or Puppy-ality and in March 2007 the program for cats was implemented called Feline-ality.  These programs help determine the friendliness, playfulness, and energy level to find a good match for the potential adopters home.  Potential adopters are asked to fill out a quick survey that tells them if their household is purple, orange or green!  Come in and see what color is best for your home!
Dogs and cats are placed into one of three categories:
•    Easy (purple)
•    Average (orange)
•    High maintenance (green)

Want to learn more? Watch the Meet Your Match feline-ality video!