Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment (A.D.O.P.T.) Pet Shelter: Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The grant from the Petfinder Foundation allowed us to purchase enrichment items for our companion animals to increase their wellness while in our care.
Our dogs are getting their full use out of the enrichment items purchased. The items increased structured play activities with staff, volunteers, and one another to facilitate socialization and reduce isolation, as well as independent play (lick pads, Kong toys, snuffle mats) during downtime in their kennels to promote stimulation and welfare while awaiting adoption.
This has resulted in a visible reduction of stress, fewer behavioral challenges, improved adoptability and adoption turnovers, and increased happiness (demonstrated by waggy tails, appropriate energy levels, and better engagement with staff and visitors) for our dogs. It has also helped us reduce stress for shelter staff, who were struggling to find ways to maintain regular enrichment and address challenging animal behavior related to boredom and anxiety. We now have a greater arsenal of options to fit each dog’s unique interests and needs.
The items we bought, particularly the larger outdoor enrichment equipment, were able to be purchased due to grant funding, as the majority of donations and program income are used to support staff salaries and the operations of our facilities. We anticipate the purchases made with grant funding will last well into the future, supporting sheltered dogs until they can no longer be played with. Our dogs are getting their full use out of them!
How many pets did this grant help?
70
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Supergirl and Cantaloupe are two dogs who have been positively impacted by the use of enrichment items here at our shelter.
Cantaloupe (first and second photos) came to us from an overcrowded Kentucky shelter in January of 2024 at just 6 months old. Right off the bat, we knew he was full of energy and had an inquisitive mind! We thought he would quickly get scooped up. Sadly, we were wrong. Cantaloupe went on to be in our shelter for nearly seven months.
For dogs of all ages, being in the shelter is hard. For a puppy essentially growing up in the shelter, it can be even more difficult since they don’t always get the experiences needed to become a well-rounded adult. Keeping his mind engaged and thinking was key to making sure he stays as happy as he can be in what for many dogs is a highly stressful environment.
This is where the enrichment toys and puzzles came into play. Cantaloupe loved any and all enrichment – snuffle mats, frozen Kongs, lick-mats, topplers – anything that got his mind working for a delicious treat! We gave these to him when he just needed a break from the four walls of his kennel, when he would display unwanted overstimulation behaviors such as jumping and mouthiness, and when he needed to settle down at night.
The enrichment items we were able to purchase with this grant helped him immensely and ultimately led to his adoption! We made sure to tell his adopters how these items help keep his mind busy and tire him out so that he can continue to be enriched in his new home. We are excited for Cantaloupe’s – now named Paco – next chapter.
Supergirl (third and fourth photos) is another puppy who has been growing up in our shelter. She came to us in October of 2023 after having been found abandoned outside of an apartment complex. We suspect she may have border collie in her DNA, not only due to her looks but because of her high energy and intelligence.
A bored puppy, let alone a herding-type breed, is a recipe for trouble! When their minds aren’t stimulated, they can become destructive, mouthy, and quite rowdy. While Supergirl has been with us for almost one year, she has greatly utilized enrichment items like Jolly Balls to chase and herd, Kongs, lick mats, snuffle mats, and topplers. She is highly food-motivated and loves to use her nose to chase a wobbling frozen Kong or sniff out some yummy treats that are high-value for her.
Since increasing the options for enrichment as a result of grant funding from the Petfinder Foundation, we have been able to keep her mind working, which has offered numerous calming benefits and preserved her friendly demeanor and need to work! In particular, Supergirl has been enjoying the outdoor agility and enrichment items that allow her to run and play in the open air.
We know Supergirl’s perfect home is right around the corner, and we will ensure that adopters know how to continue enrichment at home and care for her well-being.
