Video Transcript: Humane CNY’s “Doggy Day Out” helping more than just pups
Nick King: Meet Bertha – one of the many pups taking part in HumaneCNY’s new “Doggy Day Out” program – a tail-wagging initiative that lets volunteers take dogs out for an afternoon of fun. Although the program was initially designed to boost adoption rates, in just a month since its launch, the organization has already seen plenty of paw-sitive changes in dog’s overall moods after a day of play.
Emma Killian: They’re much more tired than they normally are. They seem much more calmer. They’re just happier dogs when they return.
Maureen Davison: I mean, a dog that’s in a kennel – you get them out and it’s a whole different dog. So it makes them much more adoptable, and they’re tired when they get back.
King: It’s undeniable that the program has been beneficial for our friends on four legs. But HumaneCNY says it’s also been helpful for our friends on two.
Killian: People love it just as much as the dogs love it.
Davison: The people in this program – they are amazing. A lot of them are repeat people that keep coming back, and they’re like, “We had such a good time.” And a lot of them are people who might own a dog that’s too old to go do some of these things that they want to do, or people who own dogs that are not that social, they’re like, “Can I take a friendly dog? I want to go to my kids’ soccer game and bring the dog with me.” So it’s been very helpful for people as well.
King: So, if you’re feeling a little ruff, and are in need of an ulti-mutt friend, visit humanecny.org. For NCC News, I’m Nick King.
LIVERPOOL, NY (NCC NEWS) — HumaneCNY’s new “Doggy Day Out” program, which lets volunteers take shelter dogs out for a day of fun, has proved beneficial for both the animals and the people involved.
The initiative, announced in late September, was designed to boost adoption rates. However, HumaneCNY says it has also benefited dogs still waiting to find a home.
“[The dogs] are much more tired than they normally are,” said kennel attendant Emma Killian. “They seem much calmer and less tense. They’re just happier dogs when they return.”
“A dog that’s in a kennel — you get them out, and it’s a whole different dog,” said HumaneCNY executive director Maureen Davison. “So it makes them much more adoptable, and they’re tired when they get back.”
Adoptable, they’ve become. Since the program began, more than a dozen dogs have found new homes — a per-month increase from before the program launched. However, the program hasn’t just helped the dogs — it’s also benefited the people involved.
Previous studies have shown that interacting with animals can reduce stress and depression while improving overall mood. HumaneCNY says it has seen the same effects in its volunteers.
“People love it, just as much as the dogs love it,” Killian said.
“The people in this program — they are amazing,” Davison said. “But, it’s also been very helpful for people as well.”
Those interested in taking an ulti-mutt friend out for a day of fun, visit humanecny.org.