OTC Pet-homing Corp: KONG Toys Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
KONGs are tough, reliable toys that are great for playing fetch with, or for more calming exercises like trying to get the frozen treat out of the KONG toy. They have helped with exercising our dogs physically as well as mentally when they're trying to figure out how to get the treat out.
I love the fact that I don't have to worry about direct supervision of the dogs with these toys, as they are tough enough to withstand even our toughest chewers. It's okay if I'm not able to pick them back up right away, because the dogs will continue to play and chew on them even after the treats are gone.
How many pets did this grant help?
This grant has helped more than 15 dogs this year!
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Little Lady was found as a stray and we were called to “rescue” her, as she would not let anyone get near her except the small children. In fact, she had been abandoned after getting spooked and managing to pull her leash out of her ex-owner’s hands.
She been on her own for at least two months before her hunger overcame her fear of people. She went into the yard of a state trooper who had two small children and wouldn’t leave, even with the gate wide open. She felt safe, probably for the first time in months.
Once I got out there, it was just a matter of tossing high-value treats to her and then flipping the leash over her head while she was eating the treats from the ground.
She was so scared of everyone at first! We gave her a frozen KONG, some fresh water, and a comfy bed and left her alone for a couple days other than basic care and cleaning. A couple days later, when she was beginning to integrate into the pack, she brought me the KONG toy that we had given her and dropped it at my feet. I picked it up and we began a long game of fetch. Since then, the KONG has been one of her favorite toys!
She has not been adopted yet, but in just four months she has come a long way and is now ready to have her own forever home! Her KONG will probably go with her when she is adopted.
