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Happy Tails

Monet

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We are soooo proud of Monet! This girly came to SCAC so scared but she wanted to trust and be someone’s companion. Her new daddy Adam was looking for a dog to train as a service animal for his PTSD and he had an immediate connection with Monet! He sent us this pretty girl’s smile earlier this week saying: “She is wonderful, we have already connected, she is a cuddle bug.” We are so happy for Monet and Adam! Dogs, in themselves, are wonderful therapy. They love you unconditionally and make you smile, even on bad days. Here’s hoping Monet and Adam’s story has brought a smile to your face today! Thank you for sharing Adam, and thank you for giving this beautiful girl a forever home!!

Happy Tails

Jillian

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Jillian went to her forever home last week! Allison fell in love with her right away! But her dog Chester was going to be the deciding factor šŸ™‚ Maddie Morgan, part of our Behavioral team, did the meet and greet between Chester and Jillian and says everything went great! Check out Jillian giving him a kiss in this photo! Allison said she wants to change Jillian’s name to Olivia Grace <3 we’re so happy for this family! Best wishes and thank you Allison for choosing adoption!

Canine Assessment & Enrichment, Dogs

Canine Treadmill Donation Video

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We have awesome news!! Shannon Duffy of Your Good Dogā€‹ generously donated a canine treadmill to our Canine Behavioral Assessment and Enrichment Program at Summit County Animal Control. The treadmill is only to be used by people of the PIFFP team who are experienced in treadmill training a dog. Treadmills are a great tool for training, especially for shelter dogs that are cooped up the majority of the day. Often times a dogs behavior is wrongly judged in shelter environments. Dogs can come off as off-the-walls crazy hyper… but in reality, that’s due to lack of exercise and mental stimulation. Imagine trying to train a dog when he or she has been cooped up almost 24 hours a day… with this new tool for our Behavioral Team, we will be able to burn off that excess energy faster and get down to business in preparing a dog for their future home! Additionally, what a great perk for their adopters. Treadmills make it possible for your dog to get the exercise they need in rain, sleet, or snow! In this video: Houston!! This was his first time on a treadmill, and he was a natural! He took to it very fast. His handler Madison Morgan said this about his experience: “He got right on and had no issues. He walked for a solid 10 minutes and it seemed to really help him calm down!” Houston is the first of many that the treadmill will help! If you are interested in having your dog treadmill trained at home, please contact Shannon Duffy. Every dog is different. Some take to it right away and others need a lot of guidance. Shannon can help you every step of the way! Give him a call: (330) 690-6738.

Dogs

Volunteering as a Dog Walker Tips

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Behavioral Trainer, Madison Morgan, wants to provide you with some helpful hints when volunteering as a dog walker at the shelter. Consistent handling techniques used by the facility staff and volunteers is vital to how a pet will present to a potential adopter. If we all manage the dogs the same way, the uniform training will get them into a home faster. GENERAL TIPS ā€ * Walk with your head up, chest out and arms relaxed ā€“ calmĀ and confident energy is contagious to theĀ dog * Use a short lead with collar high on neck (close to ears). Keep him/her at your hip and don’t allow them to get on top of otherĀ dogs being handled by other volunteers or staff * Open kennel door toward the dog so he will not break out andĀ use your body to block the dog from escaping * Walk the dog in a circle around you if hyperā€excited untilĀ calmed or you can pace back and forth in a small area to calmĀ excited energy * Walk in between the dog and any “minor” distractions (car,Ā passing dog, person, etc.) * Walk away from “major” distractions (aggression with anotherĀ animal, etc.) completely and turn back when the dog becomesĀ calm keeping a safe and clear distance. These rituals may take many repetitions but that’s all part of theĀ process!

Cats

Black Cats

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Did you know … Black cats and dogs often sit in the shelter awaiting a home much longer than orphans with other colors of fur or unique patterning in their coats? There are silly myths and stigmas associated with black pets. We love these cats and dogs at the shelter and they are no less worthy of your love and commitment. You can feel good knowing you have saved a life, and shortened their sentence when you adopt a black pet.

Happy Tails

Fresh

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Fresh, a ten month old pit mix, was adopted on Friday from Summit County Animal Control! His new dad Grant Lowry owns his own landscaping company, just bought a home, and was ready for a canine companion. We’re so happy that he picked Fresh! We think these two guys are gonna have a lot of fun together and many years of friendship! Thank you Grant for choosing adoption, best wishes to you and Fresh šŸ™‚

Dogs, Humane Education

How To Greet A Dog

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Contrary to popular belief, the best way to introduce yourself to a new dog is not by reaching out your hand for the dog to sniff. From a dog’s perspective, our hands are more like their mouths. Things humans do with their hands that dogs do with their mouths: pick up objects, use them to eat our food, and sadly some dogs have experienced a hand hurt them. The BEST way to introduce yourself to a dog (especially a nervous one) is the “No Touch, No Talk, No Eye Contact” rule-Ā let them come to you, don’t reach out to pet, avoid eye contact, and don’t talk to them. It’s also good to crouch down and get on the dog’s level while avoiding eye contact, so the dog feels more at ease approaching you to sniff. Only when they feel comfortable or even seem excited should you reach out to pet them. These tips aren’t just to keep people safe, but also to keep dogs safe! Most dog bites are caused by humans unknowingly provoking a dog to the point where that dog feels the need to protect themselves. And unfortunately, a lot of dog’s pay for the human’s mistake with their lives. No one wants that!

Canine Assessment & Enrichment, Dogs

Training a Dog Is Loving a Dog

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Here at Pay It Forward For Pets, we believe training a dog is loving a dog! Dogs want to please us, and it hurts their feelings when their humans get frustrated with them. So it’s our responsibility to kindly and patiently show them what they need to know to be the best doggies they can be!! That’s why we have our Canine Behavioral Assessment and Enrichment Program to help dogs at Summit County Animal Control who are frustrated with being cooped up in a kennel and/or were never trained by their previous owners. READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM: Many dogs do not reveal their true personalities when they are stressed-out in a shelter environment. In an effort to reduce the possibility of euthanasia, a behavioral assessment is performed when a dog displays behaviors of concern. An activity and handling plan is designed after an evaluation. Pay It Forward For Pets utilizes local, well-respected Canine Behavioral Trainers to determine the unique characteristics of fearful dogs. This critical assessment ensures the proper handling by facility staff and volunteers. Many of these orphaned animals are often just requiring some extended time to decompress and this program assures this consideration. Additionally, the staff is educated to the unique needs of each dog so that they can better match them to an appropriate adopter with a specific lifestyle and family dynamics. As an added benefit, our Canine Behavioral Trainers will work with the public to assist in modifying behaviors once a dog is in its new home. This aids in reducing the number of dogs returned to the shelter. Funding this program extends a dogā€™s residency in the shelter. ā€œDogs want to please their families ā€“ they just need to be kindly taught what is expected of them!ā€

Happy Tails

Hank

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Hank was adopted this week!! This guy was so nervous when he first came to Summit County Animal Control, but like most doggies with some time to decompress, his true colors started to show! Hank’s new mom Alexis fell in love with him! We know he’s going to love having a family. Though Alexis has to wait for him to be neutered, she visited him Saturday and took him on a nice, long walk šŸ™‚ Thank you Alexis for choosing adoption and giving Hank a forever home!!

Happy Tails

3 Aussies

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Bandit, Biscuit, and Tate are all home safe with their owner!! ViaĀ Friends of Summit County Animal Control: “Look who went home today!! The 3 aussies owner came for them and took them back home. He was so thankful they were safe, warm and fed!! Thankfully, he saw our post online of them listed as strays and made immediate contact to our page! Always check your local pound if your animal goes missing.” Yes, and likewise if you find a stray pet know that the “pound” is the first place that most owners look for their lost loved ones. Summit County Animal Control is a safe place for lost dogs and cats to wait for their pet parents to find them! We’re so happy that these three Aussies found their way back home. Thanks Friends of SCAC for the update!!    

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