An animal shelter in Ohio came up with a brilliant idea to help shelter dogs get adopted by showing off their true personalities in a life-like setting.
When animals are locked behind shelter walls, there is little if any of the comforts of home. What there is in abundance is lots of unimaginable stress as sick, injured, lost, lonely, and fearful animals fill the prison-like cells where they are housed.
Shelter staff does their best to care for and find homes for all the animals that pass through their gates but overcrowding and underfunding are a huge problem across the United States. Irresponsible breeding, abandonment, and lost pets contribute to the shelter overpopulation problem.
To help increase adoption rates, the Toledo Area Humane Society created “The Real Life Room,” which looks and feels like a real living room. The space was created to help dogs relax and feel comfortable. The room is a place where the dogs can escape the stress of their kennel and let their true personalities shine.
The dogs love spending time in the renovated office, which is decorated with a comfy chair, rugs, television, kennel, floor lamp, and a sign that reads, “All You Need Is Love And A Dog.” Shelter staff members often accompany the animals so they get some human companionship and take their pictures to post on social media.
One of the best benefits of the room is that it is helping dogs find their forever homes. The shelter shares pictures of the pups enjoying the “living room” and it’s helping to connect them with the public.
Jake is just one of the lucky dogs who found his forever family, after pictures of him relaxing in the room were shared on line.
We think their idea is great and hope to see it take off at other shelters. It seems that it could be a project the community could really get behind to help save the lives of more pets.
Please help shelter animals by sharing this idea with your family and friends.
Terrified Shelter Dog Takes A Chance At A New Life
She was so scared she was cowering under the table when her foster dad first saw her.
Lee Asher of the Asher House was called to the shelter yet again to save a dog that needed him. But the dog was so afraid that she was too scared to let him get near her, let alone take her away.
So slowly and patiently, he waited. Eventually, he crept closer to her, trying to gain her trust. Eventually, she let him get a little closer, bit by bit, while he sat on the shelter floor. Every inch he took brought her closer to eventually trusting him.
After a while she accepted a few pets, so they tried to calm her by bringing in other dogs. After that, she finally accepted a leash on her and allowed herself to be led out of the shelter. Worried that she would be scared to get in the car, she surprised them all by jumping right in.
Once she was out of the shelter, she was still timid but out of her shell a bit. She even jumped on Lee’s lap in the car so she could look out the window. She was very happy to be out of the shelter, but once at the ranch, it was apparent that she still had a lot of fear.
Despite being skittish and afraid, she met some other smaller dogs. She went inside and got her first dose of fun and affection Asher House style, which means lots of hugs and kisses and other dogs.