Friends of Strays, Inc.: Dog Field Trip/Short-Term Fostering Grant Report

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

Friends of Strays used the money to purchase "Adopt Me" leashes and collars, branded tote bags, Easy Walk Harnesses, poop bags, water bowls, and seat belts for our Doggy Day Out program.

Our facility was originally designed to house cats. When we started accepting dogs a few years ago, we established housing for up to 10 dogs, but it was not ideal for longer-term stays. The Doggy Day Out program is vital to our dogs' mental and physical well-being. By getting out of the shelter, even just for a day, the dogs come back rejuvenated. It also definitely helps us get them adopted faster when we show their trips on our social-media outlets. It helps potential adopters to see the dog in real-world scenarios.

How many pets did this grant help?

40 so far this year

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

Shay was brought to Friends of Strays by a local church member. The church members were helping one of their congregants who had lost their housing and needed a place for their dog Shay to stay until they could get stable housing again. When they didn’t hear back from Shay’s owner after a while, they decided to bring her to us, knowing that we were a no-kill shelter.

Shay’s Doggy Days Out were heartwarming for the staff, who knew that Shay was depressed from being at the shelter and away from her owner.

We are pleased to report that Shay’s owner found us after getting stable housing and was able to bring Shay back into her home. The Doggy Day Out program helped get Shay through a very difficult time and we’re glad she’s been reunited with her “mom.”