The Simon Foundation, Inc.: Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant Report

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

The money from the Orvis grant was used to purchase an all-in-one computer for our lobby. I selected one with a large touch-screen monitor which was user-friendly. This allowed users to use the keyboard or the screen to operate and navigate our website and Petfinder listings. We added Office software, security software and an extended warranty and service program.

Because we have a closed kennel facility for the comfort of our pets, everything is done by appointment. This often puts walk-in customers off. We will now be able to allow them to see all of our available pets on Petfinder, and the new computer's homepage is automatically our website, thesimonfoundation.org. People can then navigate to our online application and submit right then. This will also keep people who are waiting for their appointment engaged with the process, generating more interest and more adoptions.

How many pets did this grant help?

We have just started using our new set-up, but this has the potential to help all our resident animals find new families.

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

The first animal to really benefit from our new computer station was Wobbles (first photo). The second photo is a man who was a walk-in who has applied to adopt a dog named Hondo (third photo). He is still on our website and we hope to be able to send him home soon. Thank you for this wonderful gift and for helping us to help the homeless animals in our care find their forever homes. Meet Hondo: www.petfinder.com/petdetail/37479096