Shelter Metrics
The Metrics page shows the current operational state of the shelter -- what needs attention right now. It complements the Intelligence Dashboard, which focuses on historical patterns and longer-horizon interpretation.
Metrics are only visible to staff and admin users. The Intelligence Dashboard must be enabled in shelter settings.
What Metrics Shows
Metrics answers the question: "What should we act on today?"
Summary Cards
The top row is a shelter-wide snapshot of recent activity and observed stress.
Activities
The total number of activities logged during the current reporting window.
Use this to gauge how much recent operational activity the shelter is capturing overall. A very low number may mean activity is genuinely low, or it may mean staff logging is incomplete.
Dogs Active
The number of dogs included in the current reporting window.
This helps you interpret the other summary cards. For example, 10 stress observations means something very different in a shelter with 9 active dogs than in one with 90.
Calm Rate
The percentage of observed mood-based activities that were logged as calm during the reporting window.
This is a high-level shelter-wide signal, not a judgment of any one dog. Use it as a directional indicator of whether recent activity is ending in calmer or more stressed states overall.
Stress Observations
The number of logged observations in the reporting window that reflect stress or high arousal.
An increase here is worth attention, especially when paired with rising activity gaps, repeat needs-care, or escalating dogs elsewhere in the product.
Needs Care
The Needs Care block highlights dogs who may require follow-up right now.
Needs Care Cross-Reference
Dogs flagged as "Needs Care" with their current activity and behavior status, helping staff prioritize welfare check-ins.
Active Needs Care
The number of dogs currently carrying the needs_care flag.
This is the broadest current-state queue for staff follow-up.
Escalating + Needs Care
The number of dogs that are both flagged needs_care and showing an escalating recent trend.
This is usually the more urgent metric of the pair because it combines an active care concern with worsening recent signals.
Escalating Dogs
Dogs showing worsening behavior signals that may need intervention or a change in their activity plan.
The list helps you answer:
- Which dogs are trending worse right now?
- How recently did they receive activity?
- Are they already flagged Needs Care?
Use this for immediate triage, not long-term interpretation.
Activity Gaps
Dogs with no welfare activity in the last 24 hours. Dogs without activity for 48+ hours are highlighted with higher urgency.
This is one of the most directly actionable widgets on the page. It surfaces dogs who may simply be falling out of the daily operational routine.
Enrichment Gaps
Dogs without enrichment in the last 48 hours -- a signal that their mental stimulation needs aren't being met.
Treat this as a current queue rather than a judgment. It tells you where enrichment has not yet happened, not why.
Longest Wait
The dogs who have been waiting the longest since their last activity of any kind.
This helps surface quiet misses that may not otherwise stand out, especially in busy shelters where staff are active overall but individual dogs can still be overlooked.
How to Read Metrics
- Metrics is about today's operational picture, not forecasting.
- A widget with a small number can still matter if it points to dogs who need action now.
- Use the lists to identify specific dogs, then click through to the animal detail page for full context.
- Metrics is strongest when paired with the Intelligence Dashboard, which explains what may be emerging over time.
Common Caveats
- Metrics reflects the data that has been logged. If activity logging is incomplete, the page will understate what happened.
- Calm and stress rates are directional shelter-wide signals, not clinical or behavioral diagnoses.
- A dog appearing in Activity Gaps or Longest Wait does not automatically mean neglect -- it means the system has not recorded recent care.
Metrics vs. Intelligence
| Metrics | Intelligence | |
|---|---|---|
| Question | What should we act on today? | What is the system telling us over time? |
| Data | Current queue snapshots and recent rollups | Historical patterns, cohorts, and trend interpretation |
| Examples | Activity gaps, enrichment gaps, longest wait, needs care | Stall curve, outcomes LOS, dogs trending worse |
Use Metrics at the start of a shift to identify priorities. Use Intelligence in planning meetings to spot systemic patterns.