A ReJoyceful Animal Rescue: Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant Report

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

Funds from the Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant were used to purchase supplies to make flirt poles and snuffle mats for the foster dogs in our care. We were also able to purchase harnesses and leashes needed for dogs on-leash during flirt-pole activities.

We currently have more than 80 dogs in foster care. Many of them benefit from behavior training with flirt poles before they can be adoptable, as will future dogs in our rescue. Snuffle mats give our dogs a chance to do nose work and foraging for kibble to slow down fast eaters. A DIY crafting event was planned for our volunteers to help make the enrichment items in a team-building environment.

How many pets did this grant help?

80

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

Several of our foster dogs awaiting adoption attended the volunteer event when we were making the flirt poles and snuffle mats. Both Ben (first photo) and Jolene (second photo) had their first introduction to a flirt pole and weren’t quite sure what to make of it!

It is not uncommon for rescue dogs to lack any enrichment exposure. These toys are a great resource for our volunteers to exercise and entertain foster dogs.

Shortly after the craft event in March, both Ben and Jolene found their forever adoptive homes. We plan to use the flirt poles and snuffle mats throughout the years to help many of our rescue dogs to be more adoptable!