Siskiyou Humane Society: Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The Petfinder Foundation grant allowed Siskiyou Humane Society to renovate our canine play yards by replacing deteriorating, dust-ridden wood chips with clean, compacted gravel — a critical upgrade for safety, health, and comfort. Previously, the wood chips had broken down into fine dust that would be stirred into the air by dog movement, jeopardizing respiratory health for dogs, staff, volunteers, and visitors. The new gravel surface is far more sanitary, reduces airborne particles, improves drainage, provides stable footing, and is easier to sanitize after use.
As a result of this investment, our play yards are now usable throughout the day — even in hot summer conditions — and safer for all who use them. Dogs experience less stress and more freedom to run and play, which supports better behavior, socialization, and adoption-readiness. Staff and volunteers no longer have to endure dusty, degraded surfaces, and visitors experience a cleaner, more welcoming environment. The improvement has also freed up staff time and resources from constant cleanup and maintenance, allowing us to redirect those efforts toward direct care and enrichment.
How many pets did this grant help?
700
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
One of the clearest examples of how the gravel renovation transformed the shelter environment is Millie’s journey. Millie (first photo) was saved off a neighboring shelter’s euthanasia list and was initially deemed unrehabilitatable due to serious behavioral concerns coming from a severe hoarding case. Her start was difficult — she was wary, injured, and emotionally distant.
When Millie first arrived, her fragile state and background meant she could not safely spend time in the dusty, wood-chip yards. The particles in the air irritated her, hampering her ability to calm down, socialize, and heal emotionally. But after the installation of clean gravel — thanks to the Dog Enrichment Grant — Millie was able to safely access outdoor yard time. The new surface allowed her to build trust, regulate emotionally, and connect through affection both in the shelter and, later, in foster care.
Today, Millie has made huge strides: She’s more confident, affectionate, and stable in her behavior. She’s still available for adoption, and the difference in her condition is a living testament to how critical a safe, clean play environment is to an animal’s healing and adoption-readiness.
