East Bay SPCA: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

The Kong toys were used to enrich the lives of dogs in our shelter.

The dogs in our care greatly benefited from the extra enrichment provided by the Kongs. When dogs were given Kongs, the noise and stress levels in the kennel runs dropped drastically as the dogs worked to get the treats and peanut butter from the Kongs. We are now using these items as part of a regular enrichment program to provide ongoing mental stimulation for the dogs.

How many pets did this grant help?

Since receiving the Kongs, we have had 284 dogs in our care, all of whom have benefited from the additional enrichment.

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

Jasmine was a very small terrier mix puppy who came into our shelter as a transfer from a municipal shelter partner. She was transferred in with her sibling, who was twice the size she was. We were concerned about her due to her size difference from her sibling and worried that she may have had an underlying medical condition. We sent Jasmine to foster care while she got bigger and was treated for GI issues. She underwent extensive medical testing with us, including bloodwork, full body x-rays, and numerous veterinary exams. We were thrilled to learn that she was fully healthy and just needed some extra time away from her sibling to gain weight and flourish into an adorable, active puppy. When she returned to the shelter from foster care, she was kenneled alone, as her sibling had already been adopted. We were able to provide her with a Kong toy to help occupy her time and ease her transition back into the shelter. Her comfort in her kennel helped showcase her to potential adopters and she has since found her forever family.