SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

While our volunteers strive to get our shelter dogs out regularly for walks and give them off-leash time in our small play yard, cold weather and shorter sunshine hours means that this time of year, in-kennel enrichment becomes more important.

However, rising costs to operate the shelter means funding to buy enrichment toys is a luxury that's currently out of reach. At the same time, dog intakes are at a three-year high and we've already done 457 more dog adoptions this year than we completed in the whole of 2021.

We're incredibly thankful for this grant, as it is helping us improve the quality of stay and benefitting more dogs than we'd expected!

How many pets did this grant help?

1,025

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

On of our longest stays was a beautiful, fluffy border collie/retriever mix named Snow. Though very loving with humans, he was surrendered to our shelter at 6 years of age due to a prey drive.

Despite regular promotions about his availability, he sat waiting. One local coffee chain even did a fundraiser to sponsor his adoption and raise awareness about this wonderful dog. Still, he sat.

Then one day, KONGs arrived! These toys provided a new and welcome distraction, and it was great to see a little spark come back to Snow’s eyes.

Eventually, Snow did find a wonderful home. He was adopted by a teacher who brings Snow to school as a classroom aid! He’s a very happy boy now — and he still loves his KONGS.