Have you wondered why our adoptable dogs have different colors of cage cards and are wearing purple, orange, and green bandanas in their pictures on the website? The answer is the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match™ Adoption Program. In June 2005, the Larimer Humane Society implemented the program. 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.

To find the Canine-ality™ of each dog, the 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 interested in finding your perfect match? Head to the service desk 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.

Larimer Humane Society Launches MEET YOUR MATCH Adoption Progarm

Imagine the heart-warming sight of a young shelter dog going home with a family that perfectly matches his playful personality or a reserved, loving Lhasa Apso being hand-picked by a retired couple looking for companionship or an energetic Boxer-mix going for her first three-mile jog with the newlywed couple who will provide a lifelong home.

Increasing the likelihood that adopted shelter dogs will be a good match with their new families is the underlying goal of the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match Adoption Program sponsored by Iams.

In June of 2005, the Larimer Humane Society implemented the Meet Your Match program, further increasing the potential for successful, permanent placements for our shelter dogs. The program, which includes a canine-ality behavior assessment of each dog and a brief survey of each adopter, results in a color-coded matchmaking system that brings compatible companions together. The result is a better match between the family adopting and the shelter dog, helping to ensure the success of the adoption.

Funded in part through an Iams/ASPCA grant, the Meet Your Match Adoption Program was first developed and tested by certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Emily Weiss for the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita.

The Meet Your Match program helps the Larimer Humane Society client services staff match the expectations and lifestyles of the adopters with the behaviors and canine-ality of the dog.

To find the canine-ality of each dog, the 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 as easy (purple), average (orange) or high maintenance (green).

As part of the program, adopters complete a simple 18-question survey to identify how they envision a new dog fitting into their home and family. Following a review of the survey, staff will give each adopter a color-coded Guest Pass and direct them to the dogs that match the color of their passes, ensuring the best match for both adopters and dogs.

Prospective pet parents can visit the Larimer Humane Society for more information and to fill out the adopter survey. You can also view each adoptable dog’s category and information on our website. The Meet Your Match program is a tool that will help adopters select the dog that will best suit their lifestyle. Meet Your Match at the Larimer Humane Society today!