Tri County Humane Society: Dog Field Trip/Short-Term Fostering Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The 2026 Dog Field Trips Grant from the Petfinder Foundation allowed Tri-County Animal Rescue to expand our enrichment and socialization program for adoptable dogs through supervised volunteer field trips. With the grant funding, we were able to purchase secure harnesses, durable leashes, seatbelt tethers for safe vehicle transport, portable water bowls, and other essential outing supplies.
These items allow our volunteers to safely take dogs off-site for short outings such as walks in the park, outdoor lunches, and visits to pet-friendly community locations. Field trips provide critical enrichment for dogs living in a shelter environment by reducing stress, increasing confidence, and giving them positive exposure to new people and environments.
These outings also significantly increase adoption visibility. When dogs are seen in public interacting happily with volunteers, it often sparks conversations about adoption and helps potential adopters see the dogs’ personalities outside the kennel environment. The supplies funded by this grant ensure every dog participating in our field trip program is safely transported, comfortable, and easily identifiable as adoptable while representing our organization in the community.
How many pets did this grant help?
75-100
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
One dog who has already benefited from this program is Charlie, a 5-year-old Maltipoo currently available for adoption at Tri-County Animal Rescue.
Charlie is a great example of why field trips are so important for shelter dogs. In his kennel environment, Charlie can become stressed and overwhelmed. When people walk past his kennel, he sometimes shows his teeth and growls, which can cause potential adopters to pass him by. Unfortunately, behaviors like this are often the result of kennel stress and do not reflect the dog’s true personality.
Thanks to the equipment purchased through the Petfinder Foundation Dog Field Trips Grant, including a secure harness, leash, seatbelt tether, and portable water bowl, Charlie was able to go on a volunteer field trip outing for lunch. Once outside the shelter environment, Charlie was seen in a completely different light. He rode calmly in the car, relaxed during the outing, and happily interacted with new people.
The field trip allowed Charlie to decompress and show his sweet, curious personality that is often hidden in the kennel. Experiences like this help us better showcase dogs like Charlie to potential adopters and give them a chance to shine outside of the shelter setting.
Charlie is still looking for his forever home, but thanks to the support of the Petfinder Foundation, he, and many other dogs like him, now have the opportunity to build confidence, enjoy positive experiences, and be seen for the wonderful companions they truly are.
