Hi, All,
What is your shelter policy regarding taking young dogs out on walks by volunteers? Would you please share your policy and any resources to support what you do?
I am volunteering at a county shelter that has many young dogs under 6 months and new puppies soon to populate the adoption floor. For me, this is asking for trouble for the dogs' adoption potential futures if they are stuck in a kennel for x number of months.
The current policy at the shelter is that no dog under 6 months can be taken outside except to a cement cage to potty while the room/kennel is cleaned. Like many shelters, there are too many dogs that are staying long term due to not enough adopters, fosters, dog walk volunteers, or other orgs to take them.
Our environment options are small concrete yards that are disinfected, gravel/dirt yards next to the concrete yards, a fenced parking lot next to the shelter, and an open field along a road next to the shelter. Periodically dogs and puppies break with parvo now and that is the biggest worry I hear of, along with coccidia.
Thank you for helping out with answers to my question. to make sure we have the best program for the young dogs and for the shelter and staff.
Augusta
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment#CaseManagement*#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization------------------------------
Augusta Farley
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