{"id":1465,"date":"2017-04-14T23:16:23","date_gmt":"2017-04-14T23:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/new-shelter-enrichment-program-because-even-dogs-just-need-a-big-spoonful-of-peanut-butter\/"},"modified":"2017-04-14T23:16:23","modified_gmt":"2017-04-14T23:16:23","slug":"new-shelter-enrichment-program-because-even-dogs-just-need-a-big-spoonful-of-peanut-butter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/new-shelter-enrichment-program-because-even-dogs-just-need-a-big-spoonful-of-peanut-butter","title":{"rendered":"New Shelter Enrichment Program; Because Even Dogs Just Need a Big Spoonful of Peanut Butter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photos by Kate Karp<\/em><\/p>\n

Last Saturday, I joined up with a team of volunteers and shelter staff from Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> (LBACS)\u00a0to help put together some of the tastiest snacks known to dogdom\u2014peanut-butter and pumpkin-stuffed apples topped with a bit of doggy sausage, yogurt pops with biscuits on top, and puppy treats artistically suspended in a delightful molded aspic of beef or chicken broth. Beats the heck out of the gelatin-and-shredded carrots version by a mile, I am certain.<\/p>\n

\"Heather<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Heather Williams and Wendy Steelhammer create yogurt pops.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Kathy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Ralph Ford cores apples, with Enrichment Coordinator Kathy Roddy showing approval.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Korla<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Korla Webster fills cored delights.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"LIsette<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Lisette Martinez and Sergio Garcia prep up the pommes.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Ricky<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mary<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Ricky Lim and Mary Augugliano create gourmet doggie delights.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Peanut<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Yogurt<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Beats the heck out of Jello and stuff floating in it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Besides getting peanut butter smeared on the phone screen, prepping for the new Shelter Enrichment Program was an interesting experience not just for its unique aspect of humane shelter care but also to watch some of the pets in action, enjoying the goodies. The program was conceived by the shelter team as a way to keep the pets in the shelter occupied and engaged, thus making them even more adoptable. It is led by the newly appointed Enrichment Coordinator, Kathy Roddy, who formerly worked as the Volunteer Coordinator.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese enrichment activities\u00a0and items are wonderful ways to do just that,\u201d said LBACS Adoption Coordinator Jill Prout. \u201cLBACS is always looking for new ways to engage and\u00a0stimulate our\u00a0shelter\u00a0guests. As we attempt to hold animals longer in hopes of finding placement and positive outcomes, we find ourselves in\u00a0need of\u00a0ways to keep them mentally stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The snacks in their frozen and stuffed states make it challenging for the dogs to access the goodies. Using interactive toys like bubble mix and dangling playthings takes the dogs and cats mentally out of the kennel and into a whole new world. (Check out this video<\/a> of volunteer Ricky Lin and Conchita,\u00a0ID#A585183 and available for adoption, to see the pleasure of it all.) Much as with the whole-child theory of education, shelter enrichment is used to care for a pet\u2019s entire being and as a sensory experience, thus reducing shelter stress.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program provides enrichment tools such as different treats for pit bulls who need to keep themselves busy,\u201d Roddy said. \u201cKeeping dogs healthy this way stimulates their minds so that they don\u2019t go crazy in the kennel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other tools used in the program are spray bottles and diffusers filled with lavender- or peppermint-infused water, wind chimes and music.<\/p>\n

Cats are also beneficiaries. Volunteers created cork toys embellished with feathers and other items that kitties love to roll around with. The new Catio will also be utilized further, now that the weather is getting nicer. As you can see, there\u2019s not only a lot to keep a cat occupied but there\u2019s an opportunity for a real meet-and-greet between potential cat owners and cats.<\/p>\n

\"JUne<\/p>\n

\"CAtio<\/p>\n

June Bug and friends sussing each other out. She enjoyed playing with her new acquaintances.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPlease keep a lookout for even more\u00a0new and exciting enrichment ideas to be implemented\u00a0this year,\u201d Prout said. \u201cNext on the radar are\u00a0doggie play groups\u2014coming soon!”<\/p>\n

Read this Petfinder article<\/a>\u00a0courtesy of ASPCA for a detailed description of shelter enrichment. Meanwhile, if you want to contribute to the program, head for your local dollar-type store and pick up some of these items. As for the wine corks, it\u2019s a great opportunity to guzzle lots of Cab and Chardonnay. Bring them to the front desk at Long Beach Animal Care Services on the shelter side of the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 Spring Street, Long Beach. Go through the entrance to El Dorado Park\u2014no parking or entrance fee for shelter visitors.<\/p>\n