Secondhand Soulmates: P.L.A.Y. Pet Beds Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The 2022 P.L.A.Y. Pet Bed Grant provided a soft, cozy place for the dogs in our foster homes to rest and heal while they wait for their forever homes. Most of the dogs in foster care are kenneled overnight and while unattended during the day. Having the Chill Pads to place in their kennels provided an additional layer of comfort for the dogs to sleep.
In the past, we had used our own personal funds to purchase dog beds for fosters or used personal dog beds to keep foster dogs comfortable. Many of these dog beds were destroyed as dogs worked through behavioral issues. With the product grant, the P.L.A.Y. Chill Pads have replenished the rescue’s stock of dog beds so we may continue to provide a safe and comfortable place for each of our dogs to lay their heads.
How many pets did this grant help?
Our organization is a small, foster-based rescue. We have anywhere from two to eight dogs in our care at a time, ranging in ages, sizes, and activity levels. Occasionally we have more than eight, especially if we are caring for a litter of puppies. We received the 2022 P.L.A.Y. beds in mid-November 2022. The beds were distributed to the dogs we had in our care at that time to use in their foster homes. Since 2023 began, we have continued to use the dog beds with new dogs who come into rescue as the dogs who originally used the beds were adopted to their families. We have taken in 14 new dogs since the arrival of the dog beds in November. To date, the dogs have helped approximately 20 dogs in our care in a little over three months. Through the end of 2023, we project that the beds will help 80 dogs in total.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Julius is a large 7-year-old mixed-breed dog who came into our rescue with quarter-sized pressure sores on all four legs from lying on a hard surface. It was clear this older boy needed some luxury in his life to heal!
Julius was the first dog in our rescue to try out the P.L.A.Y. pet beds provided by the Petfinder Foundation grant. Julius’s sores began to heal almost immediately once he had a soft bed to lie on. He can be seen in the photos relaxing in his foster home on the P.L.A.Y. Chill Pads.
Julius was adopted after several relaxing weeks in his foster home. Julius’s owners saw his photo and profile on Petfinder.com and instantly fell in love with him!
In Julius’s new home, he has several human and cat siblings to keep him company and play with him. Julius is thriving in his new home! Thank you to P.L.A.Y. for providing Julius with the comforts of home during his time in foster care while he waited for his forever family to find him.
