LIVERPOOL, NY. —At HumaneCNY, a simple idea is helping take pressure off a system that’s stretched thin. Dogs at HumaneCNY are getting a break from crowded kennels thanks to a new program that sends them out into the community, at a time when slow adoptions are leaving shelters across Central New York full.
“Over the last few years, the adoption rate has really slowed down,” said director Maureen Davison. “There’s just so many animals in the area, so many people can’t keep their animals.”
As more animals come in and fewer leave, shelters are being forced to find new ways to care for them. That challenge has only grown with new, New York state requirements that call for more daily exercise and one-on-one time for every animal.
Instead of waiting for adopters to walk through the door, HumaneCNY is bringing the dogs out.
“So we thought, let’s come up with a program where we can get, especially the bigger dogs, out into the public,” Davison said. “Out doing normal dog things, meeting people, maybe a different group of people than they would normally see.”
Community members can take a dog out for a few hours, giving them a break from the kennel and a chance to be seen somewhere new.
That visibility matters.
In a full shelter, it is easy for dogs to blend together, especially larger ones that are often harder to place. Getting out into the community gives them a different kind of exposure that can lead to real connections.
“We were not really expecting it to take off as fast as it did,” Davison said. “We were just inundated with emails that first week.”
Much of that interest has come from students who miss having pets or families who may not be able to adopt but still want to help. For the dogs, it is a break from the routine.
For some dogs, those outings have become a regular part of their week. Bentley, a longtime shelter dog, often goes out with a local fraternity.
“They love him,” Davison said.
For others, like Alyssa Della Posta, it is a chance to fill a gap. A Syracuse resident who moved here for work, Della Posta isn’t able to have a dog in her apartment, but found the program as a way to still spend time with them.
“I feel like this is the most I could do to help right now,” said Della Posta. “I can give them free advertising to get adopted, and they don’t have to sit in the kennel all day.”
That time outside can lead to more than just a walk.
There have already been cases where dogs met potential adopters during a Doggy Day Out and ended up finding homes, including one dog now being adopted out of state after struggling to get attention in the shelter.
And when they come back, the difference is noticeable.
“It gets the dog out of here,” Davison said. “And when they come back, they’re so happy.”
Beyond individual adoptions, the program also helps the shelter operate more efficiently. With some dogs out for the day, staff can spend more time with the animals still inside, including dozens of cats that require the same level of care.
“The city itself needs a shelter. It needs a municipal shelter,” Davison said. “All of us are trying our hardest, but it’s just too overwhelming.”
For more information on HumaneCNY and their Doggy Day Out Program, visit its website here.