Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley: Dog Field Trip/Short-Term Fostering Grant Report

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

The funds from this grant allowed us to replenish our supplies for dog field trips. We were able to purchase new "Adopt Me" bandanas and leash sleeves to generate interest about the dogs on trips. Additionally, we were able to restock our supply of harnesses, seatbelt tethers, three-handle leashes, and martingale collars to keep dogs and handlers safe during their trips.

With these extra supplies, we are able to have a field-trip bag packed for every dog, ensuring more of them can get out for field trips regularly.

How many pets did this grant help?

50

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

Having the supplies to send dogs on field trips is crucial to the wellbeing of dogs in our care, and in many cases, it also helps them find their forever homes.

This was the case for Meadow, a young treeing walker coonhound who came into our care via owner surrender in June 2022. She started deteriorating quickly in shelter care. Our staff noted that she was so anxious in her kennel that she would jump up and down repeatedly, hitting her head on the ceiling and even causing injury.

Despite starting medication, working with volunteers and our behaviorist each day at the shelter, and participating in daily enrichment exercises, Meadow continued to decline behaviorally.

Then a husband and wife duo of dog-walking volunteers got to know Meadow better. After gaining her trust, they began taking Meadow on field trips each weekday after their morning dog-walking shift, returning at the end of the day.

Soon, we all got to see a different side of Meadow! She was more relaxed, more trusting, and less anxious. The pictures, videos, anecdotes, and feedback we received from Meadow’s daily trips ultimately helped her to find her forever home on Aug. 30!

Meadow’s adopters saw her enjoying her field trips on social media and knew that she would be a good fit for their family.