This week, Tabitha is joined by CDBC, CCBC, CSB, CPDT-KA Dot Baisly.  Dot and I discuss why and how to approach adoptions with a conversation-based approach. This approach advocates for both the animal and the human. Using this approach helps to reduce the length of stay for the animals in our care, engages match making, can be used to place behaviorally challenged animals, and helps to strengthen the shelters reputation and creates a positive culture. Dot shares her experience as she has implemented this in the shelters she has worked along with some case studies of where this technique was used to adopt a behaviorally challenged animal. Dot Baisly is the director of behavior at Northeast Animal Shelter. She is a certified professional dog trainer (through CCPDT), a certified dog behavior counselor, certified cat behavior consultant, and certified shelter behavior professional (through IAABC). She also holds a master’s degree in animal behavior from Tufts University.  She has been working in animal welfare and behavior for over 20 years, both in animal welfare and rescue organizations in New York and New England, and with private clients as a consultant for dogs and cats. Currently she works as the director of behavior for Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Massachusetts. Dot also works with many shelters and rescues as a consultant, evaluating dogs and educating staff and volunteers on a wide variety of subjects.When not working with shelter animals she also works with service dogs as a field representative for Paws With A Cause. She shares her home with her “demo” dog for Paws With A Cause, Angus, and her pit bull, Porkchop. Dot is dedicated to helping professionalize shelter animal behavior through her work with IAABC and other animal welfare and behavior organizations.Support the show via social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech