Shelter’s Edge

Do you offer humane education programs at your agency? Here are 5 ideas for keeping your young supporters busy and engaged. And P.S., some of these would be great for volunteers of all ages.

Toy Story
Ever wonder what to do with that extra material that you cut off collars after sizing them just perfectly? Well, so did Sacramento County Animal Care…

Check out these cat toys that kids can make using that excess material. “Recycling at its finest!” says the ASPCA Partnership agency. (AND we love how it subtly reinforces how important it is for all cats to leave the shelter wearing a collar and tags!)

PB & J? Make That PB & K...
We’re betting Girl Scout Troop 40892 had as much fun stuffing Kongs as the dogs at McKamey Animal  Center had unstuffing them!

P.S. For more ideas for feeding enrichment projects—and to learn what the research says about the benefits of providing stuffed Kongs for kenneled dogs—read “A Kong By Any Other Name.”

Join the (Glee) Club
Got a contact at a local school? A video promoting the animals at your shelter could be a great project for kids in drama or musical theater club. The Lana’i class of 2020 contributed vocal and acting talents to this wonderful video for the Lana’i Animal Rescue Center:

Fill ‘Er Up
Take a tip from Washington Humane Society, where students prepare Busy Buckets for all dogs in the kennels.

“Peanut Butter, Kongs, Plush Toys… there’s something for every discerning nose in those buckets!” says WHS.

Trainers in Training
As part of Bay Area Humane Society’s C.H.A.T. Club, this $100K Challenge contestant gets kids involved in training shelter dogs—check this vid of club members helping Phantom learn how to sit:

Why this is a win-win: Kids learn valuable tools they can put to work with their own pets while helping shelter dogs hone their basic manners (a great selling point for future adopters!).

Your turn—what programs do you have for kids at your shelter? For more ideas from your colleagues in the field, check out Keeping Up With the Contestants: $100K Kids.

Related links:
“A Kong By Any Other Name”
Service Learning on ASPCApro.org
Creating a Shelter Slideshow
Keeping Up With the Contestants: $100K Kids

Tags: Adoption Marketing, Adoption Programs, Behavior & Enrichment, Marketing & Media, Saving Lives, training, Videos, volunteers

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