Ionia County Animal Shelter: Purina and Amazon Treats for the Holidays Grant Report

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

We used the Beggin' Strips three different ways:

1. We used them as treats for working with the dogs while they were staying here at the shelter.
2. We gave a bag of treats with each dog when they were adopted and went to their new home.
3. We keep a bag in the Animal Control Vehicle to help entice running-at-large dogs so that we can safely catch them and bring them to the shelter.

It helps give the dogs positive reinforcement for good behavior and it makes them feel more like they are in a home while they are staying here until they find their new forever homes. The only treats we get for the animals are by donation, so this was a huge help to us and we like giving little things to the new owners when they go home with their new pet.

How many pets did this grant help?

170 dogs

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

Harding came to our shelter as a stray. He arrived here on Jan. 22, 2016. He was a boxer/terrier mix and was about 65 lbs. We held him for his stray hold period and then got him his medical evaluation so we could adopt him out. He was here for quite a while even though he was super sweet, but because of his breed mix it was harder for him to get adopted. Harding loved his Beggin’ Strip treats. When adopters would come, we would give them a handful so they could ask him to do his commands, and he would do anything for those treats. He finally won the heart of a really nice family with kids and was adopted on March 24. We have already received a great update on him, and he is adjusting well in his new home and with his new human brother, as you can see by the photo!