Not ready to adopt a dog, but still want to hang out with one? Paws Around Town at Charleston Animal Society is the perfect program for you!
Paws Around Town allows the Charleston Animal Society to give a shelter dog a day off. The stress of a shelter can be very overwhelming for dogs and a day out on the town is the perfect getaway they need. It also allows people to spend time with dogs without having to commit to adopting.
After each “field trip,” participants will fill out a fun “report card” on the animals to give adoption staff at Charleston Animal Society a better look at the personalities of the adoptable dogs (outside of the stressful shelter environment). People will also share photos, videos, and stories across social media using “#pawsaroundtown,” and this will help drive adoptions of these loveable animals.
“This is an exciting step for our homeless dogs,” Charleston Animal Society Foster and Rescue Coordinator Christina Ellwood said. “We get to bring these guys out of the shelter and showcase them around the community.”
Taking part in Paws Around Town is easy:
- Sign-up online to become a foster (CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/foster)
- Schedule a pickup time for a dog from the shelter
- Go have a great time with the dog
- Introduce the dog to friends and family in-person and on social media, trying to get him or her adopted
Participants will get a “go bag” that has a water bowl, waste bags, and list of recommended places to go If you're interested, be sure to sign-up soon!
The program will also be part of a larger research project to see if field trips like these can help save more lives of homeless animals.
“We’re excited that the Charleston Animal Society joined the Maddie’s Nationwide Fostering Study,” Maddie’s Fund Research Fellow Dr. Lisa Gunter, said. “As one of the 100 animal shelters participating, they’re helping us understand about how field trips affect dogs awaiting adoption as well as the staff and volunteers at these shelters.”
