Last year, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) launched its Tails Around Town program. Offered at the West and East shelters, the program is an opportunity for people to take dogs on a field trip, giving them a break from the shelter.
Tails Around Town is designed to help dogs be seen, allowing the shelter to learn more about them and help find their permanent home. Additionally, it serves as a way for the community to get involved and help shelter dogs.
Kim Powell, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Communications Supervisor, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the program.
Powell said the program primarily serves dogs that have spent the longest time in the shelter.
“We focus on dogs spending too much time in kennels,” Powell said. “It’s a way to have a day out on the town with just anyone, a member of the public.”
Volunteers can sign up online and are provided a dog based on their schedule for the day and their preferences, while returners have the chance to request one.
Each volunteer gets a backpack with supplies before taking the dog on the trip. Depending on the dog, volunteers can spend the day relaxing at home, visiting businesses, or, when temperatures are cooler, heading out for a hike. Powell said the breaks from the shelter can have a significant impact on a dog’s well-being.
“A lot of the dogs in the shelter aren’t sleeping,” Powell said. “They get stressed out; they don’t know why they’re there. There are other barking dogs.”
She added that a quiet home environment allows many dogs to relax before returning to the shelter.
“The shelter can be very stressful for dogs, and they can start to deteriorate,” Powell said. “Getting them out of shelter for a day sets them back to their normal self for a little bit.”
The trips also help to gain exposure to potential adopters. Dogs wear “Adopt Me” gear while walking around in the community, often leading to conversations with people interested in adopting. The program is currently on a summer hiatus due to the extreme heat, but Powell said appointments continue to open up. Click here for more information on how you can take a dog on a trip.
