Young-Williams Animal Center: Dog Field Trip/Short-Term Fostering Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Every year, thousands of dogs enter Young-Williams Animal Center. While many of those dogs are adopted, reclaimed, or sent to rescue, we have some who stay longer than average. These dogs make the perfect candidates for Doggie Day Trips.
These amazing trips allow dogs to not only get much-needed breaks from their kennels but give them socialization with humans and, on occasion, other dogs. To make these Doggie Day Trips safe for the volunteers and dogs, supplies are needed. This grant helped fund those supplies and helps make 300 Doggie Day Trips happen every year!
How many pets did this grant help?
300
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Tucker Wonder had been in and out of the shelter since December of 2022. Tucker had extreme kennel stress and anxiety, which was problematic because he was also heartworm-positive, so the behavior and foster teams worked together to find a suitable foster home for him.
The foster family loved Tucker but knew they couldn’t keep him long-term. They wrote up a wonderful profile for Tucker highlighting all his great qualities – that he got along well with their kids and resident dog, that he was house-trained and crate-trained, that he walked well on the leash and enjoyed spending time outdoors, etc.
The foster family advocated for Tucker and found an adoptive home for him, but unfortunately it didn’t work out and the family returned Tucker to the shelter after just a few days because of his anxious behaviors.
Tucker found another adoptive home after staying at the shelter a few days, but the family brought him back for heartworm treatment and never came to pick him back up. The family stated he was too energetic for their children and would jump up on them – and they refused any behavior/training support offered.
Poor Tucker was quickly deteriorating being back in the shelter, and was made a Doggie Day Trip priority to give him a break from his kennel. That’s when Jason came into the picture. He and his girlfriend had signed up to do a Doggie Day Trip and specifically asked if they could take Tucker.
The Doggie Day Trip went beautifully: The couple had fun taking Tucker on an adventure and the sweet boy stole their hearts. When they returned to the shelter with Tucker, they knew they couldn’t leave him. They filled out the adoption forms, went over Tucker’s history and behavioral/medical needs, and were approved to take him home!
Tucker’s dad, Jason, responded to a three-month adoption follow-up with an adorable update: “He has been an absolute angel. He loves our other dog, Sadie (previously Lucy at Young Williams). They are the best of friends. Tucker wants to snuggle 24/7 and will not let you lie on the couch without him being on top of you. He’s been so sweet and we are so thankful to have him! Feel free to use any of the pictures you want!”
