Animal Care Centers of NYC: KONG Toys Grant Report

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

The Kong products were used by ACC's Canine Enrichment Team for in-kennel enrichment of NYC's shelter dogs.

Kongs are one of the first items we turned to as we were developing our in-kennel enrichment program, and they remain a constant presence in our weekly enrichment schedule. We make hundreds of Kongs each week in our three care centers. They are filled with a variety of goodies; we then freeze them and hand them out to the dogs in our care to help keep them engaged with their environment, physically and mentally stimulated, and having fun while eating. The donated Kong products have been immensely helpful as we seek to meet the behavioral needs of hundreds of dogs each week in a high-stress environment where dogs spend significant amounts of time in their kennels.

How many pets did this grant help?

600

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

King Kubiak came to Manhattan ACC after his homeless owner had paid for him to be in boarding for four months, only surrendering him when she had no other options left. He has now been at ACC since the 6th of March, 2018, and we have discovered that he really loves his Kongs! When King Kubiak is in his kennel, he often whines and shows anxious behaviors, but when he sees a Kong, that anxiety changes immediately to excitement! He hops up on the kennel door while he waits for it to be opened, then in goes the Kong and he is a happy boy for long periods of time. First he goes for the frozen peanut butter and stuffing, but once that is done, he will chew and chew, and finally start nosing it around the kennel for a little extra play. The enrichment provided by the Kongs improves his quality of life so much, and he is just one in a long list of other dogs whose ears perk up and lips are licked at the sight of a Kong.