Humane Society of Union County, NC: Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Petfinder Foundation grant funds were used to purchase several bags of high-value treats and several Easy Walker harnesses. The balance of the funds were then used to hire a dog trainer.
The Petfinder Foundation grant saved one dog's life and improved the chances of adoption for many of our other dogs through the training program that was implemented because of the grant the Humane Society of Union County received.
How many pets did this grant help?
This program is not over yet, but so far it has helped at least eight dogs. With the knowledge our foster parents are gaining, many dogs will overcome their behavior problems and get adopted more quickly.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
One of our volunteers took a trip to Tennessee in hopes of finding a Tennessee walker. Instead of finding the horse she wanted, she found this large, scared dog running through traffic down the highway. This good Samaritan/volunteer quickly got the dog into her car. Unable to find the dog’s owner, she drove back to North Carolina and added him to our system. We then spread the word in the town in which the dog was found, but no one claimed him. He was given the name Tennessee. After Tennessee was vetted and started to feel comfortable with us, we noticed that he had a resource-guarding problem. At that point, he had already bitten three different people. He was now considered unadoptable due to his behavior. We were looking at options as to what to do with Tennessee.
Tennessee’s angel came in the form of the Petfinder Foundation grant. Through the Petfinder Foundation training grant, Tennessee can now “drop it” and “leave it” when instructed. He also knows “sit,” “stay,” “wait,” “down” and “come,” and walks great on a leash. We will still have to find a strong person who will continue the training, but now he is consider adoptable and treatable/manageable. Meet him: www.petfinder.com/petdetail/39871262
