Woman with brown hair and a blue jacket sitting in a car with a medium sized dog

Take a shelter dog on a field trip with the Doggie Day Out program

The Front Street Animal Shelter has re-launched its popular Doggie Day Out program, which allows members of the community to take a shelter dog on a “field trip” to get a break from life at the shelter and increase their chances for adoption.

shepherd mix dog being walked on a leash with a purple vest with text that says Adopt Me

A video on the shelter’s Facebook page describes how the program works. Community members can take dogs on walks, to dog-friendly restaurants and breweries, to pet stores for treats, and more. The shelter provides all necessary supplies, including a leash and other accessories for the dog that say, “Adopt me.”

“This program is extremely beneficial for our dogs,” said Phillip Zimmerman, manager at Front Street Animal Shelter. “It gives them much-needed exercise and a break from the stressful shelter environment, allows us to collect photos and valuable information about their behavior, and gives them exposure to potential adopters out in the community.”

The pandemic and staffing shortages caused the program’s hiatus, but with substantial hiring as well as improvements in technology to improve efficiencies, the shelter is excited to offer the program again.

“It’s not just great for the dogs, but also for the people who find meaning and enjoyment giving the dogs a fun day out,” Zimmerman said.

To learn more and sign up for a Doggie Day Out appointment, visit cityofsacramento.gov/doggiedayout.

Discover more from Sacramento City Express

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading