Local animal shelters work hard to get animals adopted and into homes. But the reality is way too many dogs spend far too long in cages waiting.A program intends to send dogs out on field trips to make them more likely to be adopted for good.Winter is a mixed breed who was turned into Seminole County Animal Services by his owner. He was given a quick ticket out of the shelter to show the intent of the new Hound Around Town program.”Give it a day out of the shelter, so it’s going to accomplish some socialization for our dogs,” said outreach coordinator Diane Gagliano with Seminole County Animal Services.Volunteers will be needed to make it all work. This coming Saturday is a day to train the first group. McGrath took Winter for a practice trip to Big Tree Park.”He’s getting to sniff and different smells and see people walking by but being in a cage all the time, dogs barking constantly, not good at all,” dog trainer John McGrath said.The intent is to get dogs out and about to parks, trails and participating restaurants where dogs are allowed around patio seating.”They can get stir crazy just like we would. They’ve got to move around. The socialization in the park here is real good,” McGrath said.”This is a great way for us to see how they react, for them to socialize and we’ll be able to tell adopters how they are outside of the shelter,” Gagliano said.All of the volunteers who take the dogs out for a field trip will have a little hint on the leash with the words “adopt me.” And for people who are interested, they’ll have information about the dog in their pocket.Winter started out timid, skittish and unsure of what was going on.”Getting them out, letting them experience the outdoors instead of in the shelter, in that environment,” McGrath said.But after a matter of minutes, he became more playful and ready to make friends with a wagging tail.The program starts Aug. 23. The first training for interested volunteers will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 9 am. Individuals should call Animal Services at (407) 665-5201 for more information on how to register for the training.
Local animal shelters work hard to get animals adopted and into homes.
But the reality is way too many dogs spend far too long in cages waiting.
A program intends to send dogs out on field trips to make them more likely to be adopted for good.
Winter is a mixed breed who was turned into Seminole County Animal Services by his owner. He was given a quick ticket out of the shelter to show the intent of the new Hound Around Town program.
“Give it a day out of the shelter, so it’s going to accomplish some socialization for our dogs,” said outreach coordinator Diane Gagliano with Seminole County Animal Services.
Volunteers will be needed to make it all work. This coming Saturday is a day to train the first group.
McGrath took Winter for a practice trip to Big Tree Park.
“He’s getting to sniff and different smells and see people walking by but being in a cage all the time, dogs barking constantly, not good at all,” dog trainer John McGrath said.
The intent is to get dogs out and about to parks, trails and participating restaurants where dogs are allowed around patio seating.
“They can get stir crazy just like we would. They’ve got to move around. The socialization in the park here is real good,” McGrath said.
“This is a great way for us to see how they react, for them to socialize and we’ll be able to tell adopters how they are outside of the shelter,” Gagliano said.
All of the volunteers who take the dogs out for a field trip will have a little hint on the leash with the words “adopt me.” And for people who are interested, they’ll have information about the dog in their pocket.
Winter started out timid, skittish and unsure of what was going on.
“Getting them out, letting them experience the outdoors instead of in the shelter, in that environment,” McGrath said.
But after a matter of minutes, he became more playful and ready to make friends with a wagging tail.
The program starts Aug. 23. The first training for interested volunteers will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 9 am. Individuals should call Animal Services at (407) 665-5201 for more information on how to register for the training.
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