What a Great Day!

[CeeCee]

The shelter I volunteer at is implementing play groups and we have a program called Playing for Life in teaching us how to run these groups. I cannot tell you what an AMAZING experience it is to bring these stressed out shelter dogs out into a yard and let them play with one another (even our dogs in impound got to come out).

These dogs that are usually so filled with tension were all loose, wiggly and bouncy playing with one another and generally being big goof balls.

More than once I got a lump in my throat.

 

[Hector]

I used to volunteer at a shelter. It was exhausting trying to get all the dogs up for adoption exercised. There were not many people that wanted to work with the big dogs, but in my experience they were the most rewarding ones to work with. This is a great idea for dogs that can get along.

 

[musicdeb]

Kudos to your shelter. Hector, I experienced the same thing when I volunteered at the shelter. The big dogs (both humane society and high kill side) and the dogs period in the "high kill" section were not exercised a lot because people didn't want to work with them.

 

[Hector]

I can understand why. We're talking large dogs that can pull really hard and can do quite a bit of damage if not controlled because of their pent energy from living in small enclosures. I give props to the shelter I volunteered at, yea they are located in a rich area, but they are also a no kill shelter and I'd say 50% of those dogs were and are still pitbulls.

 

[CeeCee]

Hector, you would be amazed at how the dogs interact with one another when the handlers are trained to get out of the way (not add tension). We had two dogs in the yard that were labelled "dog aggressive" and when they got into the yard and off lead, they were pure joy in the pack! (Of course everything is a controlled introduction.)

The trainer is a huge advocate that on leash meets or behind barrier behaviors are not indicators of a dog's true temperament and from what I saw yesterday, I can believe it.

On a side note, after owning Mastiffs, it's interesting what people call "big." They tell you a big dog is coming out and the dog might come up to you knees.

 

[DennasMom]

Yea! Good Job to your Shelter, CeeCee!!
I can just imagine how much more adoptable those dogs will be when they can be a little bit more relaxed meeting strangers and potential families to go home to.

 

[CeeCee]

Tina, you have no idea how right you are. Today we had potential adopters coming out the play yard and watching the dogs play. They LOVED it and were so much more comfortable with the dogs they were interested in - especially the pitties! (I think everyone was blown away with how well they were playing together.) We have some pretty serious fighting rings around here and people assume that the shelter dogs are fighting dogs.

 

[CeeCee]

Here are some pictures of our shelter dogs playing. I look at these pics and I get all emotional.


FYI...every one of these dogs has been adopted!

 

[ruthcatrin]

awesome!

 

[CeeCee]

And some more...

 

[musicdeb]

I love those kind of days! Thanks for sharing CeeCee!

 

[Hector]

I love those kind of days! Thanks for sharing CeeCee!

+1 ! I used to be a little sad when I'd show up at the shelter and see that one of my favorites have been adopted! Such a bittersweet feeling if you know what I mean!