Underdog Animal Rescue and Rehab: Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
With this grant, we have been able to add new and exciting activities to the lives of our residents awaiting their forever families. With adoptions down nationwide, our residents have been staying with us longer than usual, so getting them out of their runs for enrichment is more important than ever. Dogs get bored just like humans, so stimulating their brains benefits their wellbeing in a huge way.
Agility is not only fun for the dogs, it also builds confidence and teaches skills that can translate into the real world. Most "rez dogs" haven't had a ton of real-world experience, as they have typically had to spend the majority of their time simply trying to survive. By teaching them agility, we can not only bolster their confidence, but help them be more ready to go out into the world.
How many pets did this grant help?
Around 500 animals
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Tulip has been with us since May 2023.
She is a very smart dog, so being confined to our rescue ranch for such a long period of time has taken a toll on her mental health. She began developing some reactivity due to frustration and boredom, which only made finding her an adopter more difficult.
Our amazing staff behaviorist and trainer Cameron encouraged me to apply for this grant because she has seen the way agility can transform a dog and give them a productive outlet for their mental and physical energy.
Tulip took to agility like a fish to water, and as Cameron anticipated, it has helped to reduce her frustration while she’s in her run. Tulip is able to be housed with another dog, and despite the often high intensity of being at the ranch, they coexist harmoniously.
