Ark-Valley Humane Society: Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
This grant allowed our organization to purchase durable dog agility equipment for one of our rotation yards, allowing us to develop a new enrichment program for dogs in the shelter's daily care. Through the use of this equipment, we are able to work to keep shelter dogs mentally and physically enriched, and build their overall trust and confidence.
Our open-admissions shelter has been receiving a higher than normal number of dogs arriving into our care, including a higher number of dogs arriving with behavioral concerns. Working to keep all pets in our care from experiencing kennel stress and deterioration, and finding innovative ways to keep them enriched, is at the forefront of our minds.
We are grateful for this grant support from the Petfinder Foundation, which helped us to purchase this new agility equipment. We believe the use of this equipment will continue to increase the adoptability of countless dogs while also helping to decrease their overall stress and length of stay, far into the future.
How many pets did this grant help?
330
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Kida is one of our very special shelter dogs who has directly benefitted from our newly purchased agility equipment thanks to the support of the Petfinder Foundation.
Kida is a smart and energetic dog. Having been in the care of the shelter for nearly 300 days while she awaits a loving home of her own, Kida has been fortunate enough to benefit from time spent in foster, where she receives a variety of exercise-filled activities including snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, and more.
However, when she returns into the care of the shelter between foster stays, ensuring we are continuing to meet Kida’s mental and physical needs is essential. Thankfully, our new agility course is a fun and meaningful way to support her overall wellbeing.
The purchase of this agility equipment would not have been possible without the support of the Petfinder Foundation! Kida quickly took to our new course and, once returned to her kennel, was able to settle in for a nap – to the joy of our staff. Kida is currently available for adoption.
