Spending large amounts of time cooped up in a shelter kennel can cause dogs to feel stressed and lonesome. Though caring staff members try to lovingly care for these future pets in a a safe environment, these dogs face emotional challenges while they wait to find their forever families. Life penned up in a crate just doesn’t have the look or feel of an inviting home.
Thankfully, the staff at one dog shelter got a brilliant idea about how to make the furry friends in their care feel more at home. The dedicated workers at the Toledo Area Humane Society did their best to replicate a cozy, home-style living area for their shelter dogs to enjoy.
With a comfortable rug, home-like furniture, a television, a soft dog bed, and a toy box filled with exciting dog toys, this room is like dog paradise. This loving staff thought of everything, even the lighting. They purposefully put in a lamp to shed soft, soothing light and give the dogs a break from the usual stark florescent lights they’re usually under. This re-created “living room” gives the shelter dogs the perfect place to relax and unwind from their days spent in their kennels.
Besides the immediate comfort this room affords the shelter dogs, it also provides a more life-like setting for potential adoptive families to interact with the dogs. The exciting result is that this shelter is seeing more pets adopted. Rescue dogs can slowly learn more about socialization in this natural, non-threatening environment.
One staffer remarked on the success they’ve seen in adoptions after adding this area to the shelter, “It’s amazing. We’re so happy to have this room.” Perhaps one of the main lessons of this phenomena s that dogs can be greatly impacted by their surroundings. Hopefully this trend will take off and more shelters will see the benefit of providing a home-like setting for their animals.
If you’re inspired by the care and concern shown by the Toledo Area Humane Society staff in setting up this amazing space for their shelter dogs, be sure to SHARE this heartwarming news story with your family and friends on Facebook.