Abandoned Animal Rescue: Play Yard Renovation Grant Report

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

The dog handlers report that having the extra catch pens has enabled them to conduct playgroups with fewer handlers present. (AAR is all-volunteer, so there are times when some who are scheduled cannot make it in.)

The extra pens allow a handler to react quickly to tension in a playgroup; they can quickly and easily remove up to three dogs from the playgroup. The dog handlers also use the catch pens to test new intakes' reactions to other dogs who are playing and racing around, before allowing them to join a playgroup.

AAR dog handlers use a Facebook group for all large-dog handlers at AAR. It's a place to share info and observations on our large dogs so that each of us can benefit from the knowledge of all the other dog handlers. It provided the comments in this report on the benefits of the catch pens.

How many pets did this grant help?

300

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

Teddy (first photo) is one who benefited from using the catch pens to test a new intake. From dog handler Kim: “We put Terry and Cara side by side; they were adorable. They talked and play bowed and she put her paw through the bars at him.” Teddy was adopted seven weeks after arriving at AAR.

Priscilla (second photo) also benefited. From Kim: “We put Rosie (medium-dog-room puppy) in playgroup with Giuliana this afternoon. It was going well, and we added Priscilla (medium-dog-room puppy). After greetings, Rosie started picking on Priscilla. Priscilla defended herself but Rosie wasn’t backing off and we had to separate them. Neither pup was injured and Giuliana stayed out of the ruckus.” Priscilla was adopted five weeks after arriving at AAR.