The Bridge Between Animal Rescue: 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 TON of enrichment toys, puzzles, and other brain games. We often preach how important enrichment is for dogs. Enrichment is vital for their mental and physical wellbeing. We make an extra effort to provide enrichment for our dogs who are going through medical treatment and cannot engage in physical activity, but it's also very useful for dogs with anxiety and stress or even those who are just working through the basics of crate- and obedience-training. Not to mention it's FUN for them! Thank you to the Petfinder Foundation for helping us set our rescue dogs up for success!

How many pets did this grant help?

35

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

It’s no secret that pittie/bully mixes wait the longest to find their forever homes. While they wait, it’s imperative they stay active, burn energy in appropriate ways, and learn good habits — all things that will set them up for success when they are eventually adopted.

Jackson (first photo) had puppy energy in an adult pittie-mix body. “Bull in a china shop” would be an appropriate description of him when his youthful exuberance took over. He thrived when he could chase a toy in the yard or go swimming in the lake, but his fosters worked outside of the home, meaning Jackson had pent-up energy to work through during the week.

Jackson benefited greatly from a Jolly Ball with a rope that he could chase — his absolute favorite toy (second photo) — and a Toppl where his dinner could be frozen and occupy him longer. Physical and mental exercise were the best things for a dog like Jackson.

We’re pleased to say that, after four months in his foster home, Jackson was adopted! Thanks to his foster family putting in the work, he assimilated into his new home with his new bulldog brother seamlessly.