Athens Area Humane Society: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

These Kong products were used to help calm animals at the center who feel anxiety and stressed. The toys provided some of our dogs with the distraction that they need to cope with the shelter environment while they wait for their forever homes.

Animals who appeared to be very anxious in our center needed a way to be calmed down. The Kong toys have been used as a distraction for these dogs as they wait to be adopted. For some of these animals, Kong products were the only way to calm the dogs during their time at the center.

How many pets did this grant help?

10

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

One animal in particular who benefited the most from these products is Gretel. Gretel has been in our shelter for months and is very anxious being in there. Gretel is a 3-year-old chocolate Lab who absolutely loves people, yet she unfortunately has shown aggression towards other animals. Whenever a dog walks by the office that Gretel is staying in or even barks somewhere nearby, Gretel begins to bark non-stop and feels the need to protect her area. Kong toys are the only way that Gretel is able to calm down and stop barking. The second we pick up her Kong to refill it, Gretel’s face lights up and she immediately sits down to wait for her favorite toy to be given to her. When Gretel has her Kong toys, nothing seems to bother her. She is calm and ignores all the dogs who walk by the office. These Kongs have been the only products that have helped Gretel during her time at the center.