More Shelter Resources
No matter how good a shelter is, it still isn’t a home. It can be a stressful environment for dogs, especially those who stay longer than two weeks. Enrichment keeps dogs relaxed, which reduces the stress-induced behaviors that are often barriers to adoption. While it’s widely accepted that enrichment benefits shelter dogs, some shelters greatly restrict the types of tools they use, and some avoid it altogether.
Shelter dogs spend the vast majority of the time in their kennels. They need a variety of physical and mental stimulation to keep them occupied, happy, healthy, and sound until they go home with adopters.
Enrichment reduces stress, boredom, and undesired behaviors by supporting a dog’s sensory and social needs. It also adds value to your shelter dogs’ lives by teaching them basic manners and giving them the confidence to make a good impression on potential adopters.
Unhappy, frustrated, or bored dogs will not show well in their kennels and that will put off potential adopters. Enrichment helps to counter kennel-induced behaviors by making the dogs’ environments more stimulating and challenging. Toys, puzzles, sensory games, playgroups, and other novel experiences are perfect for this.
Kennel enrichment creates a more positive and productive shelter experience for the dogs in your care. Click below for more enrichment ideas.
Get creative with these inexpensive enrichment items
Shelter life is B-U-S-Y! We get it. It seems impossible to add another item to your daily to-do list. Enrichment can be simple, fast, and inexpensive. Remember, even the smallest changes make a big difference!
Reach out to your community for support. You’ll find people who will donate the necessary materials for these enrichment items, as well as volunteers who will want to help make them for your dogs.
Playgroups increase the quality of life for many shelter dogs. Socialization can be one of the most valuable forms of enrichment in a shelter. Most dogs enjoy being social, so playgroups keep them happy, but it’s also an effective way to exercise and enrich many dogs at once.
Staff and volunteers will gain the chance to learn more about each dog’s social skills with other dogs. This important piece of information will help dogs go home faster.
Benefits of group play according to Aimee Sadler, founder of Dogs Playing For Life (DPFL):
Find out more about how to implement enrichment activities into a shelter environment by visiting our Enrichment toolkit
Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization built on the principle that all dogs are individuals. Our Foundation relies on science-based information about animal behavior and public policy, including breed-specific legislation and housing insurance discrimination, derived from our subsidiary National Canine Research Council. AFF’s team offers regional and national initiatives that support dogs and the people who care for them in their communities.
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Shelter/Rescue Registration: RR286