On Saturday, February 24, my son and I were allowed to borrow a dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter for a couple of hours. It’s a program called Doggie Day Out. We have enough pets at home that we were not looking to adopt, but wanted to give a shelter dog a great experience (who doesn’t like a break from their routine with a fun field trip?). Once we completed and signed a short form, a staff member introduced us to 7-year-old, 40-pound Adalyn. She is a sweet girl who liked us immediately. The feeling was mutual!
We got to the car and she hopped into the backseat with my son, as if she knew she was in for a fun day. My son loves the park, so we headed for Odell Weeks to walk some laps before going to the playground. Adalyn was the best girl! She absolutely LOVED her walk, with her and my son even jogging at times. She was energetic, enthusiastic, and spirited. She enjoyed drinking from the doggie water fountain, too! Everywhere we went, we encountered men, women, and even toddlers who wanted to give her pets and attention. Adalyn was patient and enjoyed it all.
After the park, we went to a coffee shop to get Adalyn a pup cup. At first, she was hesitant about drinking her pup cup but shortly lapped it up.
We then took Adalyn to Petco because we wanted her to return to the shelter with some toys and treats. Her visit there went smoothly. She did want to jump up and check out everything, and was especially interested in the ferrets and cats. But she listened to us when we corrected her, and then was on her best behavior.
We returned her to the shelter after a full two hours out. It was one of the hardest things for us to do. Whoever adopts Adalyn, will be rich in love and luck! She is the sweetest girl with a big smile.
Because we enjoyed spending time with Adalyn so much, we booked another day to take a pup on a field trip. I hate the idea of the dogs waiting for homes being stuck in their kennels, unable to enjoy a fun car ride, walk, hike, pup cup, or human companionship outside of the shelter. Going on a doggie date relieves them of shelter stress and builds their confidence. It’s also a wonderful program to help introduce shelter dogs to people who are interested in finding a companion to add to their home.
Their lives are in our hands.
By Wendy McDaniel, FOTAS Volunteer
Epilogue:
Adalyn was rescued from a home of neglect and brought to the County Animal Shelter on Jan. 30. Scared and confused, she was passed over by prospective adopters for a month. However, just five days after her doggie date with the McDaniels, a woman in Beech Island adopted Adalyn. Today, Adalyn is doing great, living out her golden years with companionship and love.
If you would like to take a County Shelter dog on a date, just stop by 333 Wire Road or call us at (803) 642-1537, ext.3. You can also email info@fotasaiken.org to sign up for a Doggie Day Out.
