Wenatchee Valley Humane Society: Play Group Training Grant Report

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

Dogs Playing For Life tuition

This grant gave us the ability to create a new program and position for our shelter dogs. The Wenatchee Valley Humane Society (WVHS) is using Dogs Playing for Life techniques. We have now implemented this program for our shelter dogs. We will be using DPFL daily. A new position was created just for enrichment. Karen Headlee, the behavioral specialist and DPFL attendee, will be operating this program. Karen will be spending 3+ hours per day with 8-10 dogs doing playgroups. The goal is to get every one of these dogs out and socializing. They are already showing improvement and are becoming more adoptable with each session.We are grateful to the Petfinder Foundation for this opportunity!

How many pets did this grant help?

This grant has helped approximately 12 dogs so far. The goal is 4-5 playgroups per day with 8-10 dogs involved.

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

This grant helped Athena (first two photos). This beautiful dog was adopted as a puppy and returned because of landlord issues. She was then adopted by a woman who loved her, but ended up having domestic-violence issues (and possible drug issues as well) and became homeless. Our Pets for Life program housed Athena for two weeks and her owner picked her up. They lived homeless for a few months and when the owner found a temporary place to stay, she couldn’t take Athena. We took care of Athena for three weeks, but the owner never came back for her. Athena went up for adoption and is still adoptable. She is a sweet dog, but never learned stability or what it means to live in a house with loving pet parents. Dogs Playing for Life is helping Athena learn boundaries and socialization. She is doing very well and will make a great addition to a new family. Meet her: www.petfinder.com/petdetail/39904770