One thing common to all shelter dogs is that they have lost their homes. It is our responsibility as animal care providers to keep our shelter dogs healthy, happy and sound in an unfamiliar environment until we secure them a new home. Enrichment for shelter dogs is vital for a successful adoption program. Unhappy, frustrated or bored dogs will not show well in their kennels and potential adopters will be put off by kennel-induced behaviors.
Enrichment makes the dogs' environments stimulating or challenging through the use of toys, scents, puzzles and anything else that might provide a novel experience. Enrichment can be as simple as giving the dog a new toy to enjoy on his own or as complex as a playing a game together. Best of all, kennel enrichment doesn't have to be expensive. Each dog is an individual and will find different things to be enjoyable. Use your imagination to keep your dogs' brains and bodies busy while not breaking the budget. Most of all, it is important to remember that enrichment is a process, not a single event. |
