12/23/2025
We are a few days away from Christmas, and just over a week from the New Year, marking the end of this seasons fundraising journey.
A generous donor started us off woth a $10k match challenge, a challenge met amd exceeded.
Now, a second ally has put an additional $4k on the table...$1131 of which has been raised.
So for tonight, I am going to shed some light on a rarely discussed part of UCC's work, a facet that slides intentionally amd necessarily under the radar...but it is nonetheless vitally important:
The Social Assesment Program, or SAPs.
This is a program aimed at dogs that have perhaps exhibited a willingness to bite, or displayed uncharacteristic aggression; it is a program built on a bedrock foundation of 30 years experience with canine aggression, in all its forms.
While UCC occasionally encounters troubled dogs in the course of our normal activities; most of our intentional intake/adoption population is curated- with an eye towards well adjusted, naturally safe candidates for adoption.
The SAPs program is typically populated by transfers from other shelters or rescues, or by dogs owned by the public; and subject to pote tally catastrophic legal proceedings following incidents of aggression. What all these dogs have in common is a bite history, often isolated or atypical, a legal system with consequences ranging from muzzling, to sanctuary placemt t to euthanasia.
And what they all need is a competent, professional, extensive and methodical behavior assessment with honest conclusions/recommendations based on the individual dog, not the emotionally charged circumstances surrounding the inflicted injury.
What triggered the bite?
What else may trigger an aggression response in this dog?
What training techniques does this dog respond to?
What behavior modification techniques may apply? What management techniques? Is the dog even safely manageable in a shelter setting, let alone a public setting? What quality of life prospects exist for this dog, moving forward?
For a dog in the SAPs program, we seek to answer these questions, to help a rescue perhaps struggling with behavioral euthanasia questionse, or an owner caught between a dog they love and risk to a family member; or a court grappling with a just conclusion to a difficult bite case in need of statutorily required expert testimony.
SAPs dogs typically stay for a minimum of two weeks, often longer; for an intensive an exhaustive exploration of that dogs responses to stimuli common in life, viewed and interperted by expert personnel. Most are released back to their shelters, or families with what we hope is a guidebook towards their future success. Some, a few, stay at UCC- the occasional.dog with no alternative plan; but still dogs that WE believe enough in to extend our space and resources as long as it may take to find rarest of homes that may offer them a sustainable life. And some, sadly, are let go; gently euthanized in our arms, offering the comfort of a trusted voice, a trusted lap during those final moments; an unfortunate reality that some dogs will inevitable present a risk to the public, or to shelter staff, while likewise failing to settle in a sanctuary environment- in those xas3s, UCC makes what we come to believe to be the kindest choice.
This past year has seen us host, through SAPs, JJ, Freddie, Titan, and Moon...with an eye towards welcoming Graham from Town of Hempstead in the near future. All were unique dogs, with unique challenges, unique histories and unique requirements for possible homes...and all deserved the uniquely experienced perspective my 25 years of navigating dog aggression in shelter or abuse/neglect/fear based settings can bring to bear.
(As well as numerous privately owned dogs with owners desperately advocating for their companions in court- dogs and owners for which i must maintain confidentiality)
Contributions to UCC can be made via venmo
PayPal.me/ulstercountycanines
Or check to
3539 rt 32
Saugerties ny 12477
Thank you!
Adam saunders
