Reading the Dashboard
The dashboard is the main screen you'll use every day. It shows all active animals in the shelter, sorted so the ones needing attention most are at the top.
Species Tabs
The dashboard has tabs for different species:
- Dogs -- Full-featured view with behavior tracking, mood capture, and handling levels
- Cats -- Simplified view with basic activity logging (Interaction, Enrichment, Observation)
- Other -- For other species in the shelter's care
Dogs are the primary species in Heelr. Cats and Other species have simplified activity logging and do not participate in behavior intelligence features like trends, exit behaviors, or the Intelligence Dashboard.
How Priority Sorting Works
Animals are sorted by longest wait time first. An animal that hasn't had any activity in 6 hours will appear above one that was walked 30 minutes ago. This ensures no one gets forgotten.
Spotlight Section
The top of the dashboard features the Spotlight -- the 3 dogs that have been waiting the longest for any activity. These are your best picks when you arrive for a shift.
Attention Indicators
Dogs are categorized by attention urgency:
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| High | Extended time without activity -- prioritize these dogs |
| Medium | Moderate wait time -- good candidates for your next activity |
| Low | Recently had activity but could benefit from more |
| None | Recently active -- no immediate attention needed |
Dashboard Sections
The dashboard is divided into two sections:
- Can Handle Now -- Animals matching your permission level, sorted by priority
- Needs Staff / Restricted -- Animals requiring higher permissions (shown to all users for awareness, but only staff/admin can interact)
Dog Card Anatomy
Each dog on the dashboard is displayed as a card. Here's what you'll see:
Photo
A circular photo of the dog (or a placeholder icon if no photo has been uploaded). The photo has a colored ring matching the handling level.
Name
The dog's name, displayed prominently on the card.
Time Since Last Activity
A relative timestamp showing how long it's been since someone logged an activity for this dog. For example: "2h ago", "45m ago", or "No activity" if nothing has been logged yet.
Handling Level Badge
A colored badge indicating the training level required to handle this dog:
| Badge Color | Level | Who Can Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Level 1 | Anyone -- all volunteers |
| Blue | Special Handling | SH Certified volunteers, Staff, and Admin |
| Orange | Staff Only | Staff and admin only |
| Red | Isolation | Staff and admin only (dog is in isolation) |
| Purple | PPE | Staff and admin only (personal protective equipment required) |
"Recently Out" Badge
When a dog has had activity very recently, a "Recently Out" badge appears on their card. This is a signal that the dog may need a cooldown period before more interaction.
Handling Flags
Small icons or badges may appear on cards for dogs with operational flags like reactive, escape risk, or resource guarding. These alert you to important safety information before interacting.
Cat & Other Cards
Cat and Other species cards show a simplified view:
- Photo and name
- Time since last activity (based on Interaction or Enrichment -- Observation does not count as "last activity")
- No handling level badges (cats and other species don't use handling levels)
Filtering the Dashboard
"Show Dogs I Can Handle"
Use this toggle to filter the dashboard to only show dogs matching your permission level. As a volunteer without Special Handling certification, this hides dogs that require trained volunteers or Staff.
Tips for Reading the Dashboard
- Start with the Spotlight -- The top 3 dogs are your best picks
- Check the time -- Animals with longer wait times need attention first
- Watch for "Recently Out" -- Give these animals space before another activity
- Note the badge color -- Only interact with dogs matching your training level
- Check the attention level -- High-attention dogs should be your priority
- Review handling flags -- Read any safety flags before approaching a dog