The Vanderburgh Humane Society is excited to announce their newest pilot program “Mutt’s Morning Out!â€
Mutt’s Morning Out (MMO) allows members of the general public to take a VHS shelter dog “out on the town†for a couple of hours. Life in a kennel 23 hours a day can be very stressful on a dog’s psyche. It is emotionally upsetting for them, particularly when they have always been used to family life and then suddenly find themselves homeless. MMO will give the dogs a break from kennel life where they can decompress and receive extra exercise & enrichment. The experience of car rides, walks, new people & places is beneficial not only for the dogs, but for the VHS Adoptions team who can learn even more about each dog while trying to match them with a family.
Mutt’s Morning Out will be offered on Tuesday-Friday mornings from 9 am – 12 pm in the VHS’ front entrance. Dogs may leave the premises anytime during that time but must be back at the shelter by 12:00 when Adoption hours begin. Many VHS dogs get adopted simply from walk-in foot traffic at the shelter, so it’s important that they be in their kennels ready for visitors at 12:00. (Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for extremely stressed dogs or long-term resident dogs.) This means dogs can go on a full 3-hour adventure, or just down the street for a few minutes. Timing is flexible within the 9:00-12:00 range.
This program is designed specifically for medium & large high-energy dogs. Occasionally small dogs may be available for outings, but the vast majority of participants will be strong and exuberant weighing approximately 40-80 lbs. All breeds will be eligible for MMO. All dogs will receive temperament evaluations prior to participating for increased safety.
VHS will provide a list of suggestions on where to take dogs on outings, such as local parks, restaurants, and trails! Garvin Park is also a stone’s throw away from the shelter within walking distance.
All dogs will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, temperament-evaluated, and fitted with a collar & harness before leaving the premises. They will also wear an “Adopt Me†vest.
Human buddies will be given postcards containing basic information about the dog to pass out to anyone who may be interested in visiting the shelter to adopt it. They can also post as many photos & videos as they want, tagging the VHS’ social media platforms! All dogs are available for adoption.
Mutt’s Morning Out is very similar to the VHS’ Cardio for Canines program, where the public can take a shelter dog to Garvin Park every Saturday morning. MMO is meant to supplement CFC by providing dogs with enrichment opportunities through the week and not just on Saturdays.
It is perfect for those who aren’t in a position to adopt a dog, such as college students, those temporarily traveling to Evansville for work, or anyone who has simply reached their own limit but would still like to make a difference for a local shelter dog.
Many other shelters across the country have implemented similar programs with wild success. Examples include Louisville Metro Animal Services’ field trips, Hawaii Island Humane Society’s field trips, and Humane Society of Silicon Valley in California’s “Doggy Day Out.†A representative of Fredericksburg SPCA said the increased adoptability in dogs who participate is incredible. When they post stories of their “Adventure Tails†on their Facebook page, they said, “typically that animal is adopted within 24 hours.â€
First-time participants will fill out an initial registration form and provide a photo ID. After their first time, anyone can come pick up a dog for an MMO without having to re-register. The VHS will provide you with a dog based on the energy level you’re comfortable with. VHS asks the public to please read the FAQ’s on their website prior to coming to the shelter.
The social media response to the Mutt’s Morning Out announcement has been substantial, so VHS asks the public to keep in mind that dogs will be given out on a first-come first-served basis and that there may not be enough for everyone. Running out of dogs because of a positive community response would be a good thing!
Mutt’s Morning Out is the VHS’ latest investment in improving the overall standard of care of their canines. The ultimate goal is to improve the dogs’ mental and emotional health and also reduce their total length of stay in the shelter. The VHS team is confident that not only will the dogs benefit dramatically from this program, but the humans may enjoy it just as much!
Media teams are welcome to take a dog out as part of their coverage of this story. Ideally 2 people are recommended (1 photographer and 1 dog handler.) Please contact Amanda at the information above to schedule an interview, photo opportunity, or to try the program yourself!
Thanks are also in order to Maddie’s Fund, who provided the VHS with grant funding to purchase new Adopt Me vests and other foster care programming supplies.
For additional information regarding Mutt’s Morning Out, including a printable FAQ sheet and registration form, visit www.vhslifesaver.org. Monetary donations to help cover the cost of the dogs’ spay/neuter and vaccinations can be made at www.vhslifesaver.org/donate.
