Outdoor Dog Project
Last weekend, our SC team began visiting homes with chained and penned dogs in their community to connect with each family and drop off supply kits as part of our Outdoor Dog Project. The goal of this outreach project, which is very important to our mission, is to educate the owners and improve the life of these dogs, with both immediate and long term results. These kits contain large water bowls, Flys-Off to ward off biting insects that can cause infections, a chew toy and bully stick for their enjoyment, and information on spay/neuter clinics, pet safety, and local animal welfare laws. We also gave cots and flea/tick preventative to some dogs to give them some relief.
This year’s first outing was a HUGE success!! Our team made contact with six of the eight owners they targeted, and will return to follow up with the remaining two. These can be delicate conversations, and the owners are not always receptive to change, so sometimes it takes a few attempts to start a dialogue, but our team, led by Alicia, is determined and persistent.
Many caring people have been involved in this effort, whether it was through purchasing and donating supplies, hand-making toys or putting together the kits. We want to share a few updates on some of the dogs whose lives have already been impacted:
- POLO: His chain was permanently caught in a tree, making it very, very short, which is illegal. He was unable to lay down, and had no room to go the bathroom outside of his trapped area. Our team freed his chain, and has offered to build him a pen in exchange for getting him needed vet care and neutered. A pen will be a huge improvement in his quality of life, and he’ll be able to move around for the first time in years.
- MOMMA & RIPPET: Penned together. They’ve already been spayed, and had their pen extended by our SC team. The supply kits serve as way to keep a dialogue going and check in on the pups. Both pups got cots to give them a soft surface to lay on, toys to play with, and their owner came out to talk with the team, and gave the dogs fresh water while they were there. Progress!!!
- SCARFACE: We replaced a short, heavy chain with longer trolley line, and are purchasing a dog house to give him shelter. He enjoyed his toys and just having some attention. We will check back in monthly to monitor the conditions.
- BUDDY: A senior Golden Retriever living in discomfort who needed medical care. Buddy had a UTI and some tumors that were impeding his ability to go the bathroom. We gave him a cot for comfort, and his owners agreed to let our vet examine him. He was treated for a UTI, and is coming back in for neuter and removal of some growths.
If you’d like to support this project, we need more cots and flea/tick preventative. $22.60 you can give a cot to a chained or penned dog living in the elements who may never have had a bed before.
Thank you!
