Cumberland County residents in need of some puppy love are in luck.
The county’s Animal Services Department has launched a program — Dog’s Day Out — that allows residents to take a sheltered dog out on the town for the day, giving people the option to enjoy the company of a ready pet outside of the facility's environment for companionship and adventure.
The program launched on Monday. In order to participate in the program, those wanting a dog for the day must sign a waiver, be at least 18 years old and present a valid ID.
Amanda Organ, the volunteer coordinator at Cumberland County Animal Services, said the idea came from programs other shelters had implemented, as well as a local Boy Scout’s Eagle Scout Project proposal.
The Boy Scouts of America requires each scout wanting to reach Eagle Scout designation to complete a service-based project in their local community. Examples of projects include building a park bench or playground, restoring campsites or leading donation drives. Rawls Howard IV of Fayetteville, 14, knew he wanted his scout project to involve animals. He has been helping out at local shelters with his mom, Joelene, since he was in kindergarten. He had no shortage of ideas either.
“I went there with 10 different ideas that I wanted (to do),” Howard said.
Most of these ideas, including a plan to make dog beds out of used tires weren’t very practical, Howard said, but the Dog’s Day Out idea stuck.
Beyond just helping with the program idea, Howard helped get it off the ground by collecting donations from local businesses to create supply bags for volunteers and pups to use on their adventures. The bags include a bandana, leash, toys, treats, a collapsible bowl and waste bags. When volunteers return the dog, the supplies are replenished for another adventure.
Shelter employees say the program allows dogs to get a break from the sometimes stressful shelter environment and show off their true personalities in the outside world. Dogs can also have new experiences such as visiting a coffee shop, taking a walk in a local park or just simply cuddling on a couch.
At the shelter, the dogs often are limited to experiences in their kennels and a play yard.
“They don't really get to get out and experience much,” Howard said.
For humans, volunteers get to show off the dogs to the world and to potential adopters.
Organ said she hopes maybe those participating will “fall in love” with the pup and decide to adopt. So far, two out of the five dogs “taken out” as a part of the program have been adopted.
Upon completion of a day out, the dogs go home with a report card, cataloging activities they like to do, how they interact with other dogs, children and cats, their personality and their behavior overall. That information is helpful for potential adopters, giving them expectations about how the dogs will act once adopted and settled in a new home.
“The main focus of (the program) is to get eyes on some of the dogs that have been sitting at the shelter for a long time,” Organ said.
For more information on the program, contact Amanda Organ at aorgan@cumerlandcountync.gov.
Contact Char Morrison at cmorrison@cityviewnc.com.
