Animal Rescue of the Rockies: Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant Report

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

We were able to purchase lots of dog toys and dog beds.

The grant helped these pets feel happy and secure in their foster homes. Often, a bed or toy from the foster home is sent along to the adoptive home as an added security blanket -- a very positive benefit. The toys helped the dogs learn positive chewing activities, not destructive behaviors. The beds kept the dogs snug and warm.

How many pets did this grant help?

250

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

We are so happy to share that Sawyer was recently adopted! He came to us in November and after the first day, his foster mom said, “Sawyer is completely shut down. After we got him inside after he spent three hours last night running/hiding in our backyard, he’s gone out one time today and has not moved from the same spot. We haven’t had a dog this despondent before. It’s heartbreaking.”

It took him over a month to get comfortable with his foster parents. He was adopted out once, but returned because he wouldn’t stop howling in his new home. Then it took five or more additional meet-and-greets for him to finally find the perfect home! Sawyer has come a long way, with more to go. But he’s with a great and patient family now. The second, third, and fourth photos are of Sawyer in his new home and meeting the grandbaby for the first time.

We can’t thank his foster parents, Toni and Jim, enough. They love him so much and worked so hard with him. And a huge thanks to Debbie and Thomas for giving Sawyer a chance and adopting him.