Humane Society of Valdosta/Lowndes County: Dog Enrichment Grant Report

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

Many of the dogs we take in from our municipal county shelter not only have been homeless for a while but also come in with some behavioral issues. Having additional enrichment for them while they are stuck in a kennel 12 hours at a time means we have a unique ability to help them prepare for being adopted into a home. Giving emaciated dogs a way to slow down their eating while they gain weight or high-energy dogs an outlet so they don't become kennel-crazed is vital to their success in a shelter environment. Being able to purchase Kong Wobblers, slow-feeder bowls, and Nylabones to make their lives just a little better while in our care has been life-changing.

How many pets did this grant help?

400

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

Shadow came to us back in June, extremely emaciated and weighing only 47 lbs. He was all legs, skin, and bones. His fur was in awful shape from a serious lack of nutrition.

Understandably, he was absolutely obsessed with food. A regular food bowl was completely out of the question and even a slow-feeder didn’t do enough to slow him down or keep him mentally stimulated.

Due to the shape he was in, he wasn’t allowed into playgroups until he got his strength up. So in addition to his health issues, he wasn’t getting his energy out the way he needed to.

Our saving grace in caring for Shadow was Kong Wobblers. For breakfast and dinner, he would be given two Kong Wobblers full of food. Not only did this slow down his food intake, it also allowed him to throw the Wobblers around his kennel and expending mental energy in the process.

Over time, we noticed he stopped smacking them all over his kennel and was able to be controlled enough with them that he kept them on his bed and lightly turned them over to get the food out.

We are overjoyed to report that he has since been adopted and is living his best life with a human partner that he stands taller than her hips! A match made in heaven!