Humane Educational Society: Dogs Playing for Life Mentorship Grant Report

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

The grant money was used to sponsor tuition for a Dogs Playing for Life Mentorship Level II.

The grant helped our organization by allowing a staff member to attend the DPFL Mentorship Level II. With the information and training techniques learned there, we have been able to increase the number of dogs who attend playgroups each day. We have also started some basic command training and are laying the foundation to develop a formal Behavior Department and training program. We plan to do some behavior-modification training with certain dogs who are not showing well at the shelter, which will allow them to be adoptable.

How many pets did this grant help?

1,000 per year

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

Quinn is a 7-month-old pup who came to the shelter about a month ago. She was terrified in her kennel, but she showed her fear by growling, snapping, lunging, and biting in the kennel. We were finally able to get her out and on a leash using some of the techniques learned at the DPFL Mentorship Level II. Once she got out to the play yard, her demeanor changed from fear-aggressive dog to playful puppy. We began taking her out to playgroups, and now she is a Playgroup Rock Star! We also started walking her on-leash and saw how quickly she learned commands. She was always intent on what the trainer was doing and so eager to please. She quickly learned sit, down, and place. She has also started to master duration in all of these things. Even though Quinn still needs some work to get her ready for adoption, we now have the tools, training, and confidence to work with her and find her a forever home!