The next time you’re planning a refreshing outdoor walk or hike, consider bringing a friend along—a furry one, that is. In our area, we have so many wonderful places to bring canine companions, like Pend Oreille Bay Trail, Pine Street Woods, Sand Creek Trail, or even Oak St. Food Court.
If you don’t have your own dog, you’re in luck! At Better Together Animal Alliance, our Hounds on the Town program lets members of the public take a dog out on an adventure, whether for an hour or a whole afternoon. Animal shelters throughout the country are increasingly implementing short-term programs like this as a way to get their canines out of their kennels. A few hours out of the shelters equals an enormous impact.
We see that when dogs come back to the shelter from these outings, they are exhausted from their big day. They return to their kennels less anxious and stressed, and they show less concerning behaviors, like jumping or mouthing.
No matter how nice shelter facilities are, they are stressful, with many unfamiliar sights, smells, and sounds. They are also no substitute for a home, where animals have the choice to move around freely. Therefore, one of the most critical, but challenging, tasks we have at shelters is to provide enrichment for our residents, to expend both their mental and physical energy. Getting them time out of their kennel is the best way to do this. Plus, dogs are social. They crave human interaction, which these outings help provide.
And please, don’t worry about dogs becoming more stressed upon their return to the shelter or feel bad about bringing them back. They don’t experience feelings or time like we do. They are just happy to get out when they can. For the majority of dogs, the benefits they get from spending any time out of their kennel far outweigh any minimal stress they might experience upon their return.
The advantages of these programs are not just anecdotal. Going on brief outings of a few hours increases dogs’ likelihood of adoption by five times, according to a 2023 study in the Animals journal.
Why? As we’ve mentioned, time out of the kennel reduces dogs’ stress. Stress can lead to behavior challenges and to dogs not putting their best paw forward for potential adopters. In addition, the information we learn about their behavior on these outings is incredibly valuable to share with interested families because canines often act differently in a shelter setting.
At Better Together Animal Alliance, when a community member inquires about participating in Hounds on the Town, we have a conversation about their dog experience and match them with an appropriate animal. When they come in for the outing, we give them everything they need—water, “Adopt Me” swag, and of course, treats!
Upon returning from their adventures, we ask participants to fill out a brief “report card” sharing how their new canine friend did on a leash and around other people, dogs, or traffic. We also always encourage them to take photos and videos we can share to help with adoption promotions.
If you’re interested in taking a dog out as part of our Hounds on the Town program, please call Better Together Animal Alliance at (208) 265-7297 ext. 100. Please call ahead to schedule a day in advance. These outings are available in the afternoons Monday to Saturday.
