The Broome County Humane Society: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

The product was used for canine enrichment within out kennels.

The grant helped our organization and the dogs in our care by providing enrichment and alternatives for feeding. This encourages adequate stimulation and play when the dogs wait for their forever home!

How many pets did this grant help?

619

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

Longhorn (first photo) is a dog who was rescued out of El Paso, Texas, in the beginning of July. He was part of a large-scale rescue that included more than 200 dogs to be transferred out of the shelter due to capacity. Since July, Longhorn has spent time with us while waiting for his forever home, which we believe is now right around the corner!

Every morning when we come to the shelter, Longhorn is waiting at the front of his cage to go for his morning walk with our staff and volunteers. Upon his arrival back, he has TONS of toys waiting for him on his bed, one of which is a very large Kong that he enjoys playing with during the day and gets stuffed with peanut butter in the evening before we leave.

It’s toys such as this that provide energetic dogs like Longhorn with mental stimulation in the kennel. As he is a large dog, sometimes it’s hard for volunteers to be able to get him out as frequently for walks compared to the smaller dogs, so ensuring he is engaged in play even if it is on his own has been a key part in his lifestyle when he is in the kennel. You can meet Longhorn here.

Over the past several months, we have increased our transport program involving dogs since we were unable to transport as heavy in 2020. With this increase in transport dogs, as well as local dog turnover, we have been able to keep the dogs mentally stimulated while in our care.