Kind Keeper Animal Rescue: Play Group Training Grant Report

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

The $1,000 grant was used to pay tuition for volunteer Betsy Shortle to attend the Dogs Playing for Life Mentorship in Austin, TX. Betsy attended the training in November 2018.

Kind Keeper has play yards, but has always kept the animals in separate play areas. We are now allowing several dogs to play together in a single play area. This has helped not only with exercise but socialization of the dogs so that they are able to get along with other dogs and therefore be more adoptable.

How many pets did this grant help?

The number continues to grow as time goes on. Initially, the grant helped six dogs. However, with dogs being adopted, we can confidently say that this grant will help at least 100 dogs per year based on our turnover.

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

Angel is a pit bull who came to us with her seven puppies in August. By November, most of her puppies had been adopted and we were working to socialize and train Angel so that she would be more attractive to potential adopters. Angel benefited from playing with a couple other dogs in our fenced play yard, which also reassured, not only shelter staff, but also visitors when they came to see Angel. Angel was taken for a temporary foster visit with a family with other dogs. Angel made herself right at home within hours and played with their other dogs. Angel was adopted from the foster situation before Christmas and continues in that successful placement.