Shelter Dogs Enjoy Outings with Volunteers for a Taste of Freedom

Finlee, a one-year-old black mouth cur mix, resides in a clean and well-cared-for animal shelter in New Jersey. Despite the good care, he yearns for the outside world filled with new smells, leaves to explore, wet grass, and squirrels. Thanks to St. Huberts Animal Welfare Centre's programme, volunteers take dogs like Finlee on field trips to parks, beaches, lakes, pet-friendly hotels, or even Starbucks for "Puppucinos."

"It gets dogs out of the shelter for a few hours," said Sarah Sangree, director of community engagement at St. Huberts, part of the Humane Rescue Alliance. She noted that kennels can be stressful places for dogs. Dogs that leave the shelter for even a few days show reduced stress levels measured by cortisol.

Field Trips Increase Adoption Rates

Sangree highlighted that dogs on field trips are five times more likely to be adopted than those who stay in shelters. "It's hugely beneficial to the dogs," she said. The programme is especially popular among dog lovers who live in pet-restricted places. Volunteers can take dogs on hikes or walks or let them relax at home for a few hours.

Joseph Romero from East Bay SPCA in Oakland, California, mentioned that 350 dogs would go on day trips this year. Many of these dogs find happier and more stable homes after their outings. "A lot of them arrive here not having had an amazing home life," he said.

Gathering Valuable Information

Shelters often ask volunteers to fill out brief report cards on the dogs' behaviour during day trips. This information is invaluable for understanding how dogs react to car rides, other dogs, and children. Leslie Wall from Everett Animal Services in Washington state said they are almost always at capacity and have a waiting list of pet owners looking to surrender their pets.

Everett Animal Services started a day trip programme called "Wandering Rover" on July 17. In its first four days, four dogs found adoptive families. Day tripping dogs might visit parks, trails along the waterfront, pet-friendly microbreweries, and coffee shops. Sometimes senior citizens take a dog for company in the afternoon.

St. Huberts' Success Story

St. Huberts has sent 500 dogs on day trips this year and aims for 1,000 by year's end. These trips not only uplift the dogs but also attract potential adopters. The shelter facilitates 2,300 adoptions annually; at least half of these animals had one day trip with a volunteer.

Finlee came to St. Huberts from Caras House in Sorrento, Louisiana. He was adopted on July 1, 2023, but returned on May 23 due to his owner's health issues. Finlee enjoys chasing tennis balls and having his back scratched.

Dennis and Diane Meyer from Warren, New Jersey, recently took Finlee out for a day trip. They lost their dog three years ago and are considering adopting another but aren't ready yet due to their schedules. Taking Finlee out weekly helps fill the void.

The Meyers took Finlee to a nearby park where he sniffed everything within reach of his nose. After their walk, they rested on a bench, gave him water and treats while receiving plenty of kisses in return.

"We love doing it," Dennis Meyer said. "This makes you feel good with all those kisses he just gave me!" Diane Meyer added, "We're animal people; we love helping animals, and they help us."