Animal Behavior Expert to Review Michigan Humane Society Canine Evaluation and Assessment Practices and Procedures   
MHS Board of Directors also continues to consider additional operational assessments

DETROIT – An expert in animal behavior and shelter environments will be reviewing the Michigan Humane Society’s canine evaluation practices next month and making recommendations to its Board of Directors and management. 

Kelley Bollen, owner of Animal Alliances, LLC and Director of Behavior Programs for the Maddie's Fund Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, will conduct an assessment of MHS' canine evaluation protocols at the organization’s request.  Ms. Bollen is a preeminent expert in animal behavior in a shelter environment, and consults with animal shelters across the country in design and implementation of comprehensive behavior programs.  She has a Master's Degree in Animal Behavior, is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC), and is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Furthermore, at its Monday meeting, the MHS Board continued its consideration of additional ways to assess MHS’ protocols and procedures in order to ensure the best possible outcomes for the animals in its care.

"Among the assessment options we're looking at is a joint proposal by the University of Florida and University of California at Davis," said Beverly Hall Burns, Chair of the MHS Board of Directors.  "MHS is one of the country’s largest humane organizations with three distinct shelters, many offsite adoption locations and a tremendous scope of critical programs, so while neither of the universities felt comfortable conducting a broad-based assessment alone, using their combined expertise could be helpful to MHS.” 

"We may also assemble our own team of experts, as well as look at other constructive approaches,” said Burns.

Interest in what was labeled as an "audit" at the time came in June along with resignations of four MHS Board members.   The proposed "audit" – which is unrelated to the annual financial audit conducted for MHS – was not approved by the Board in June because it was deemed to be duplicative of other ongoing improvement strategies.