SPCA of Southwest Michigan: Grant Report

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

It was used to purchase the DVD and book "Train to Adopt" and to purchase interactive toys for both the dogs and cats.

This grant has only just begun helping the dogs and cats. Our senior volunteer, Theresa Kausrud, has taken on learning the principles of the program and has now just started to teach the other volunteers what do to and how to do it. The interactive toys will help ease the stress that dogs and cats feel when coming to the shelter. It will make it a happier and healthier place for them until they get adopted.

How many pets did this grant help?

So far we have concentrated on three dogs: Sundae, who was just adopted; Ralph Jackson, who has a pending adoption; and Aluhua, who is working on confidence.

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

We have been working with Aluhua since the beginning of November. She came in very shy and was not very confident. With our senior volunteer, Theresa Kausrud, working through the Train to Adopt program with her, she is not more confident and has very good manners. She is ready for her family. The photos show her before and after. From her Petfinder profile: “Meet Aluhua! She loves, loves, loves to play tug-of-war and to chase balls. She doesn’t return the ball, just chases it. She is a friendly dog with a pretty calm disposition. She also was very calm when another dog came running at her, so she would probably be okay with another dog. Because she likes to run and play, she could use a home with a fenced yard where she can chase balls and play tug-of-war.” Meet her: www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38923261