Friends of Strays’ New Doggy Day Out Program Lets you Borrow a Shelter Dog

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Looking for a friendly companion to join you on a walk or for some ice cream? Friends of Strays is proud to announce its new Doggy Day Out program, which pairs members of the community with friendly shelter dogs for field trips. Outings can last from an hour to all day, and can include a hike, a trip to the beach, or even a nice dinner in a pet-friendly restaurant. Doggy Day Out is a unique program that allows everyone to enjoy the benefits of pet ownership while doing something great for a shelter animal.

Doggy Day Out was created in order to help reduce kennel stress and provide Friends of Strays’ dogs with enrichment and increased visibility. Outings also give shelter staff valuable insight on how the dogs behave in new environments, which helps place dogs in homes where they'll find a happy fit. Plus, it’s a great excuse to spend a day exploring Saint Petersburg!

“We’re lucky enough to live in one of the most dog-friendly places in the country,” says Friends of Strays CEO, Dara Eckart. “We wanted to add a program to take advantage of that. Whether you’re just visiting St. Pete, live in a place that doesn’t allow pets, are considering adding a dog to your family, or just want to have a fun adventure with one of our dogs, Doggy Day Out is a way for everyone to experience the joy of a canine companion. Most importantly, it gives our dogs a well-deserved break from the shelter and gives us valuable information on their personalities to share with potential adopters.”

Doggy Day Out was designed to make it easy for the community to participate. Participants will be provided with everything they need for a successful field trip and signing up is easy. Just come to the shelter during open hours, fill out a short questionnaire, and you’ll be on your way with your brand new friend! Or you can save some time and fill out the required forms online at www.friendsofstrays.com/doggydayout.

And don’t worry if you’re not sure where to go -- Friends of Strays will provide you with a list of dog-friendly activities to experience together.

Similar programs at shelters across the country have been enormously successful, and Friends of Strays is excited to bring Doggy Day Out to Pinellas County for the first time. It is proudly sponsored by Pinellas Ale Works, St. PetersBARKHawthorne Bottle ShoppeFresco's Waterfront BistroBrew D LiciousO'Maddy's Bar & GrilleMityMo DesignThat Dog Ice CreamPacific Counter, and H2H Social.

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