Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

The Kong Toy Grant has been a game-changer for our shelter dogs, providing essential enrichment and improving their overall well-being. The durable, interactive toys help reduce anxiety and boredom, especially for dogs facing long stays. These toys keep our dogs mentally engaged and emotionally balanced by encouraging natural behaviors like chewing and problem-solving.

For many of our dogs, particularly those with trauma or stress, Kong toys offer comfort and a healthy outlet for nervous energy, making them happier and more adoptable. We're deeply grateful to Kong for their support in enhancing the lives of our four-legged friends.

How many pets did this grant help?

400

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

The Kong toys made a world of difference for Duke, an 11-month-old who came to us after his family could no longer keep him due to a separation. Having lived with seven other dogs, the adjustment to being alone in the shelter was especially tough for Duke.

Kong toys provided Duke with the comfort and enrichment he desperately needed. Stuffed with treats, they kept him mentally engaged and offered a healthy outlet for his nervous energy. Chewing and playing with the toys helped him cope with the stress of his new environment and eased his transition into shelter life.

Thanks to the Kong toys, Duke began to show his sweet, playful personality again, making him more confident and ready for his forever home.

He has two applications as of this post. So he is pending.