Lost Our Home Pet Foundation, dba Lost Our Home Pet Rescue: KONG Toys Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
To provide enrichment opportunities for our shelter dogs
The Kong toys were used as part of our Enrichment Program to keep our dogs healthy, happy and emotionally sound until they are adopted.
• The Kongs engage our dogs’ attention and help create a more stimulating environment for them
• They direct their energy towards something positive by using them in training exercises
• We create a longer-lasting source of entertainment by layering the insides of the Kongs with peanut butter and dry dog food and freezing them (a great summer treat!)
• They keep our dogs mentally engaged and diverted them into some important quiet time
• They give the dogs an opportunity to play and chew, which has decreased their stress levels and increased their chances of adoption and success in a new home.
The Kongs are such a big hit with the dogs that a volunteer bought and donated a new freezer just for keeping a large supply of frozen Kong treats.
How many pets did this grant help?
32 and counting with every new dog we take in
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Harley (first photo), a beautiful, loving 3.5-year-old cattle dog/pit bull mix, was brought to Lost Our Home Pet Rescue in March 2016 by a kind soul who noticed him wandering the streets near us. Harley had been microchipped but the chip had not been registered, so we had no way of contacting his owner. While Harley received daily interaction with humans and regular physical stimulation, it wasn’t long before we began to notice some shelter deterioration.
Soon after the Kongs arrived, we noticed Harley’s stress level decreasing as he played with the Kongs. He was thrilled with his new toys! His playful behavior got him noticed by a foster in June who is “super in love” with him and will more than likely adopt him. We made sure that Harley’s favorite Kong toys went with him to the foster’s home.
Here is a great video clip that was shared on our social media of Harley taking all the Kong toys out of the box and putting them on his bed: https://www.facebook.com/lostourhome/videos/1199035270121155/
Moo (second photo) was adopted about three weeks after the Kongs arrived. From her Petfinder profile: “I’m one spunky puppy who is only two months into my adventure in this fun world! I think people and toys are super fun. I probably spend about 50% of my time being a silly puppy and the other 50% of my time passed out like I’ve never slept a day in my life. My new family needs to know that I will need training, but I’m a smart girl who’s eager to learn I promise! Please come play with me today and maybe even think about adopting me while you’re at it?”
Another success story is the entire shelter! It’s always quiet during Kong playtime, even when people are walking through. This is a testament to how engaged the dogs are with the Kongs and how much they love their frozen Kong treats.
Your generous donation of Kong toys have made Harley’s and all the dogs’ lives in our shelter brighter and less stressful. Thank you!
