New Collar Collective: Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Thanks to this grant, we were able to purchase a wide range of high-quality enrichment toys for the foster dogs in our care. These items include snuffle mats, tug toys, flirt poles, treat balls, and puzzle toys, providing both indoor and outdoor activities to keep our foster dogs mentally and physically engaged. These enrichment tools help our foster families stimulate the dogs’ natural scenting abilities, build their confidence through problem-solving, and ensure they have access to activities that cater to various preferences and play styles.
The ongoing dog overpopulation crisis has led to many of our wonderful foster dogs staying in care longer as adoption rates have slowed. The enrichment toys funded by this grant play a crucial role in improving the overall well-being of these dogs, reducing their stress levels, and increasing their adoptability. By offering a variety of stimulating activities, we are enhancing their quality of life as they await their forever homes.
As a donation-based rescue, we often struggle to afford enrichment supplies. The durable, high-quality equipment we’ve been able to acquire through this grant will not only benefit the dogs currently in our care but will also support many more in the future. We are deeply grateful for this grant, and our dogs will continue to enjoy the benefits of these enrichment toys for a long time to come.
How many pets did this grant help?
Items purchased with this grant will help approximately 50-80 dogs for the remainder of 2024, and will continue to be provided to our fosters dogs beyond the end of this year.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Meet Nula (first three photos), one of the dogs benefitting from the enrichment equipment purchased through this grant. Nula is about 3 years old and has been in our foster care for nearly 1.5 years, patiently waiting for her forever family. She came to us from Northern Ontario, where she was surrendered to one of our partner rescues. Many northern communities in Canada face significant dog overpopulation issues due to limited access to veterinary services.
As a shepherd mix, Nula requires both regular physical exercise and mental stimulation to keep her sharp mind engaged. She is a playful, affectionate, and loyal companion who loves fetching, playing tug, and engaging in games that challenge her intellect.
Nula’s foster family has been using the tug toys to keep her active and has incorporated various feeding enrichment supplies to ensure she’s mentally stimulated during mealtimes. The variety of enrichment options allows her fosters to keep things fresh and engaging for Nula, preventing boredom and promoting her well-being.
With increased engagement and play, Nula is thriving in her training and thoroughly enjoying her time with her fosters. She is still available for adoption, and what we hope for most is that Nula finds the loving family she deserves.
