Behavioral Health Assessment Checklist

Use this checklist to monitor animal behavioral health throughout their shelter stay. Complete intake sections upon arrival and daily monitoring sections each shift to ensure proper care and identify animals requiring intervention.

Industry: Healthcare
Frequency: Daily + Per intake + Per incident
Estimated Time: 15-30 minutes
Role: Animal Care Staff
Total Items: 29
Compliance: ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care, Association of Shelter Veterinarians, ASPCA Shelter Standards

Intake & History

Capture behavioral information at intake.

Behavioral history captured at intake (relinquishment reason, known triggers, bite/incident history, meds, prior training)?
Missing intake fields
Stray/impound intake includes soliciting available context (finder notes, location, observed behavior)?
Context sources gathered

Documentation & Incident Control

Track behavioral incidents and daily observations.

All aggression/anxiety incidents recorded with context (date/time, antecedent, behavior, response, outcome)?
Incidents logged today
Behavior notes are entered daily for each animal (or per policy for low-risk animals)?
Animals missing daily note
High-risk flags applied and visible to staff (kennel card + system tag)?
Unflagged high-risk animals

Staff Capability

Verify staff training and protocol adherence.

Staff trained on stress signals/body language (species-appropriate) and refreshers are current?
Staff overdue for training
Staff follow handling protocols for fearful/aggressive animals (no unauthorized contact)?
Protocol deviations noted

Enrichment & Welfare

Ensure animals receive proper enrichment and housing.

Animals receive daily enrichment (social contact, mental stimulation, exercise) per plan?
Enrichment sessions completed
Puppy/kitten socialization plan is active and documented?
Juveniles without socialization plan
Prey species housed away from predators; cats separated from sight/sound of dogs where required?
Housing conflicts identified

Escalation & Outcomes

Track interventions and outcome decisions.

Animals showing unrelieved stress are escalated and intervention documented?
Escalations today
Dangerous animal rehoming restrictions followed; decisions documented with reviewer?
Exceptions noted

Initial Setup & Documentation

Complete initial documentation and preparation

Inspector / Assessor Name
Date
Location / Area
Inspection Type
Previous findings reviewed?

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Why Use This Behavioral Health Assessment Checklist?

This behavioral health assessment checklist helps healthcare teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for animal care staff professionals, this checklist covers 29 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: daily + per intake + per incident.

Ensures compliance with ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care, Association of Shelter Veterinarians, ASPCA Shelter Standards. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Behavioral Health Assessment Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 29 inspection items across 6 sections: Intake & History, Documentation & Incident Control, Staff Capability, Enrichment & Welfare, Escalation & Outcomes, Initial Setup & Documentation. It is designed for healthcare operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily + per intake + per incident. Each completion takes approximately 15-30 minutes.

Who should use this Behavioral Health Assessment Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Animal Care Staff professionals in the healthcare industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.