Boone County Animal Care & Control: Play Group Training Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Our attendee, Matthew Ligon, was able to gain even more knowledge on the successful implementation of playgroups. This expertise has enabled him to effectively train other shelter workers and volunteers to work playgroups as well. Obviously, this creates a positive ripple effect throughout the organization for so many more dogs than before.

How many pets did this grant help?

500

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Clay (first photo) was running at large in a rural community for several days and absolutely no one could catch him. He barked and growled at strangers in the community. An older gentleman slowly befriended Clay by providing treats and food, and one of our officers was finally able to secure him.

Fast-forward to the shelter: Clay came in completely shut down and fearful, with no desire to socialize at all with humans in the shelter. This fear translated into growling and posturing, making many staff members feel that Clay might be a dog who wasn’t safe to adopt out.

Matthew decided to put Clay into playgroup, and Clay immediately started blossoming. He went from growling at staff in the kennels to eagerly standing at the front of his kennel greeting people. He was able to be put up for adoption and was successfully adopted into a great home! We credit playgroups for Clay’s success.