A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE THOSE PUPS BUT THE THOUGHT OF ADOPTING ONE CAN BE OVERWHELMING SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH TO CONSIDER. THERE REALLY IS A LOT TO CONSIDER. BUT I LOOKED INTO A PROGRAM RIGHT HERE IN THE TRIAD THAT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE A CANINE COMPANION WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT. ALL IT TAKES IS ONE DAY TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF A SHELTER DOG AND BRING SOME HAPPINESS INTO YOUR OWN. RELAX. BOUNCING ON A BLANKET, HUGS DURING A HIKE, EVEN A NAP. THESE MAY LOOK LIKE PICTURES OF DOGS HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH THEIR HUMANS, BUT THESE ARE SHELTER DOGS AT THE FORSYTH HUMANE SOCIETY, TAKING PART IN THE DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO SPEND A DAY WITH A SHELTER DOG OUTSIDE THE SHELTER. YOU CAN GO TO DIFFERENT PARKS IN THE AREA. YOU COULD ALSO TAKE THEM BACK TO YOUR HOUSE IF YOU’D LIKE. IT’S KIND OF INNOVATIVE AND COOL TO THINK THAT YOU CAN TAKE A SHELTER DOG OUT FOR THE DAY AND THEN JUST BRING THEM BACK. IT’S IT’S A COMPANION WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT. YEAH. SO BASICALLY WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO ENRICH THESE ANIMALS LIVES BY TAKING A DOG OUT OF THE SHELTER FOR THE DAY. YOU’RE RELIEVING THEM FROM AN UNNATURAL LIVING ENVIRONMENT, WHICH MAKES THEM HAPPY AND HEALTHY. BUT THE DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM ISN’T JUST A BREAK FOR DOGS FROM THE SHELTER. IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE A DOG OUT LIKE ROXANA FOR THE DAY, SHE’LL BE WEARING A VEST THAT SAYS ADOPT E. SO OF COURSE THAT DRAWS ATTENTION. YOU’LL ALSO HAVE SOME BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOG IN CASE ANYONE APPROACHES YOU AND ASKS YOU ABOUT IT. SO HERE’S THE THING. IT’S ONE DAY ON YOUR END, BUT IT COULD BE THE ONE DAY THAT DOG FINDS ITS FOREVER HOME. THE FORSYTH HUMANE SOCIETY LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM BACK IN MAY. BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER, WE SENT OUT 155 DOG DAY OUT. WOW. BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER, 155 DOGS. HAVE ANY OF THOSE RESULTED IN ADOPTIONS? YES. SO BEFORE SEPTEMBER, WE HAD FOUR WHO HAVE GOTTEN ADOPTED DIRECTLY FROM OUR DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM. I GUESS THE ONE MAIN DRAWBACK, LIKE IF THERE IS ONE, IS THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THESE DOGS OUT FOR THE DAY, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT YOU COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM AND BE UNABLE BRING THEM BACK. I MEAN, IT HAPPENS. I KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND. DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS GUY? YES. SO HE WAS PART OF YOUR DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM AND AND HE HAS SINCE BEEN ADOPTED. JOKES ON ME. I MET JAX HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I TOOK HIM OUT FOR THE DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM. AND THEN I FOSTERED HIM. AND THEN I KEPT HIM. HUH? I ENDED UP KEEPING HIM TIME FOR A HAPPY DANCE. HE’S PART OF THE FAMILY NOW. NOW. AND JUST A LITTLE BIT SPOILED NOW. KEEPING HIM WASN’T A DECISION I MADE OVERNIGHT. WE I MEAN, HE SLEPT ON IT. SO. YES, I FAILED THE ASSIGNMENT. BUT DON’T LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU BECAUSE A SINGLE DAY OF COMPANIONSHIP AND LOVE IS A REAL TREAT FOR THESE DOGS. MAYBE THEY JUST DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMMIT TO OUR VOLUNTEER OR FOSTER PROGRAMS. BUT IF THEY HAVE MAYBE ONE SATURDAY, A MONTH OR MAYBE ONE SATURDAY, JUST LIKE EVERY NOW AND THEN, THAT THEY HAVE TIME THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO GIVE BACK TO AN ANIMAL. THEY CAN COME IN, PICK AN ANIMAL UP AND IT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO OUR ANIMALS AND IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THEM AS WELL. GOOD BOY. BRING THAT BALL. YEAH. WHAT A GOOD BOY, JAX. JAX IS THE SWEETEST OF BOYS TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM. YOU HAVE TO BE PART OF THE FORSYTH HUMANE SOCIETY’S FOSTER PROGRAM. A PRETTY SIMPLE PROCESS THAT CONSISTS OF FILLING OUT A FREE APPLICATION ONLINE. WE WILL HAVE A LINK TO THIS STORY AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET STARTE
Forsyth Humane Society's Dog Day Out program: How all it takes is one day to improve a shelter dog's quality of life
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Updated: 6:14 PM EST Nov 6, 2023
The Dog Day Out program is about giving shelter dogs a break from the shelter and giving you an opportunity to help them by spending some one-on-one time with them. You don't need to adopt them or even foster them to enrich the lives of the dogs at the Forsyth Humane Society; all you need is to commit to one day.Top StoriesGreensboro shooting at Electric Tequila: 'They value profits over their patrons,' says mayorWinston-Salem Police investigating Sunday shootingWinston-Salem police say vehicle pursuit leads to arrestsGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking here"We started this program because we were looking for more ways to enrich these animals' lives. By taking them out of the shelter for the day, you are relieving them from an unnatural living environment, which makes them happy and healthy," says Allyson Gilliam, a Forsyth Humane Society volunteer coordinator.Here's how it works: The first step is to sign up for the FHS Foster program. You can do it online. Once you've been approved, which generally just takes a couple of days, tell the folks at the Forsyth Humane Society what you plan to do with the shelter dog. Will it be a hike? A movie on the couch? The more they know about the kind of day you're planning, the easier it is for them to set you up with the dog whose personality will be the best fit.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsGilliam says this is a great program for someone who loves dogs but may not have the time to commit to volunteering at the shelter on a regular basis."Even if they come in to pick up a dog once a month, or whenever they can, it can really make a difference in the lives of these dogs, and in their lives as well," she adds. The FHS launched this program in May. Since then, they've sent out 155 dogs on the Dog Day Out program, and four have found their forever homes. I learned about the program in early June when I was exploring dog-related volunteer opportunities in the triad.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.As it turns out, the second dog I brought home on the Dog Day Out program, I ended up fostering and eventually adopting. Jax is the sweetest of boys.To make a long *tail* short, if you're looking for a way to give back to your community and love dogs, this is a program worth considering. The Dog Day out program is more than just a break for shelter dogs, it's an opportunity. When you pick up the dog, it will be wearing an "adopt me" vest. Naturally, the vest draws attention. People may approach you and ask about your furry friend. So, although on your end, it's just a one-day commitment, it could end up being the one day, that dog finds its forever home.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |TRENDING STORIES
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Dog Day Out program is about giving shelter dogs a break from the shelter and giving you an opportunity to help them by spending some one-on-one time with them. You don't need to adopt them or even foster them to enrich the lives of the dogs at the Forsyth Humane Society; all you need is to commit to one day.
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"We started this program because we were looking for more ways to enrich these animals' lives. By taking them out of the shelter for the day, you are relieving them from an unnatural living environment, which makes them happy and healthy," says Allyson Gilliam, a Forsyth Humane Society volunteer coordinator.
Here's how it works: The first step is to sign up for the FHS Foster program. You can do it online. Once you've been approved, which generally just takes a couple of days, tell the folks at the Forsyth Humane Society what you plan to do with the shelter dog. Will it be a hike? A movie on the couch? The more they know about the kind of day you're planning, the easier it is for them to set you up with the dog whose personality will be the best fit.
Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts
Gilliam says this is a great program for someone who loves dogs but may not have the time to commit to volunteering at the shelter on a regular basis.
"Even if they come in to pick up a dog once a month, or whenever they can, it can really make a difference in the lives of these dogs, and in their lives as well," she adds.
The FHS launched this program in May. Since then, they've sent out 155 dogs on the Dog Day Out program, and four have found their forever homes. I learned about the program in early June when I was exploring dog-related volunteer opportunities in the triad.
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
As it turns out, the second dog I brought home on the Dog Day Out program, I ended up fostering and eventually adopting. Jax is the sweetest of boys.
To make a long *tail* short, if you're looking for a way to give back to your community and love dogs, this is a program worth considering. The Dog Day out program is more than just a break for shelter dogs, it's an opportunity. When you pick up the dog, it will be wearing an "adopt me" vest. Naturally, the vest draws attention. People may approach you and ask about your furry friend.
So, although on your end, it's just a one-day commitment, it could end up being the one day, that dog finds its forever home.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |
TRENDING STORIES
