The SPCA Serving Erie County: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

The donated KONG toys and the treats that can be hidden inside them are making a big difference for the dogs at the SPCA! Each KONG toy:

- Prevents boredom and destructive behavior: KONGs provide mental stimulation and an appropriate outlet for chewing, helping to prevent boredom and destructive behavior.

- Reduces stress-related issues: Engaging with KONG toys can help reduce stress levels in our dogs, promoting overall health and wellbeing.

- Training and enrichment: KONG toys are used as positive reinforcement tools during training sessions with staff and volunteers and in enrichment activities, providing both mental and physical stimulation.

The SPCA is grateful for the donation of KONG toys and treats! They help to improve the lives of the dogs in our care in many ways, making them more adoptable and happier! And since they are durable, we can reuse them countless times!

We created this video to express our gratitude to Petfinder Foundation for their support: https://youtu.be/0nrn-RHLZ7A.

How many pets did this grant help?

1,000

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

Shelby (first three photos), an outgoing 10-month-old pit bull, arrived at the SPCA due to her owner’s unexpected move. While at the shelter, the staff noticed her friendly nature and enthusiasm for exploring during walks. As part of her enrichment, Shelby enjoyed KONG toys filled with treats and peanut butter during her walks outside.

Shelby adapted well to life at the SPCA, except for her reluctance to let staff and volunteers leave her kennel! To solve this, the staff devised a simple solution: Filling a KONG with treats and peanut butter and giving it to her before they left her kennel kept her happily engaged while they made their exit.

After a nine-day stay at the SPCA, Shelby found her forever home and was adopted!

Shelby’s ID number was: A0054094116.