At the Associated Humane Societies, we’re always striving to make our shelter an enriching place where animals can grow, heal, and prepare for their adoptive homes. Thanks to Molly, a Life Scout from BSA Troop 570, our dog exercise yard and facilities in our Forked River shelter received a makeover that will enrich the lives of the animals in our care.
Molly approached us looking for a project to complete her Eagle Scout requirements, and she did not disappoint! With a focus on improving our dog training space, Molly and her group built an A-frame, a dog walk, weave poles, steps to enhance the yard and gave the whole area some TLC!
Pictured: Burke working with staff member Wendy
The agility course is already proving to be a hit with our dogs! This new equipment allows our trainers to provide more enriching and dynamic exercise sessions, helping prepare dogs for adoption by boosting their confidence, balance, and coordination. The additional steps built for the existing spools, along with a storage box for toys and supplies, further enhance our exercise yard and make it easier for our team to keep things organized.
These upgrades will allow our behavior team, including staff like Wendy, to work with dogs like Burke, on important skills that will help him find a special adopter.
Training and enrichment are essential parts of a shelter dog’s journey to finding a home. Physical activity and mental stimulation help dogs build confidence, learn new skills, and prepare for successful adoptions.
Our behavior staff work closely with the dogs in our care to provide them with the attention and structured activities they need to thrive.
With new equipment like the A-frame and weave poles built by Molly and her troop, our team can offer even more dynamic training sessions. These resources allow us to tailor exercises that meet each dog’s individual needs, boosting their chances of being adopted into loving homes.
In addition to the dog yard, Molly and her troop made several improvements to our cat facilities, repairing and repainting cat trees, adding sisal rope, and installing non-slip treads for safer climbing. They also replaced signs in our animal memorial area, built privacy screens for the animals’ cages, and donated two new birdhouses that now grace the front of our facility.
We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work of Molly and her team! Every bit of enrichment and comfort helps our dogs and cats on their journey to finding loving homes.
Interested in a project to help the animals?
Projects like these directly support our mission of providing better care and opportunities for shelter animals. If you’re interested in leading a project that can make a difference, contact us at info@ahsppz.org. Together, we can continue to improve the lives of the animals we serve!
