Our Goals
PAWS Goals for 2024
PAWS is dedicated to improving the lives of pets at the Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center by pursuing several key long-term goals. These include establishing a sustainable spay and neuter program, acquiring an adoption trailer, and expanding our Dogs Play for Life program. Keep reading to learn more about each initiative
Spay & Neuter Program
Our Goal: In 2024, we aim to ensure all dogs are spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter. With 453 dogs adopted in 2023, and a spay/neuter cost of $125 per dog, the shelter needs nearly $60,000 annually to adopt out dogs that are altered before leaving the shelter. PAWS hopes to raise $30,000 each year to support this initiative.
The Benefits: Spayed/neutered pets live longer. Studies show neutered male dogs live 13.8% longer, and spayed females live 26.3% longer. Altered pets also have reduced cancer risks, lower chances of reproductive system issues, and fewer behavioral problems. This not only extends their lifespan but also reduces long-term medical costs, making spay/neuter a cost-effective and health-beneficial choice.
How to Help: PAWS’ 2024 goal is to establish a sustainable spay/neuter program for the Wayne County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center. This will reduce pet overpopulation, increase the lifespan of adopted pets, and relieve adopters of the additional costs of spaying or neutering.
Adoption Trailer
PAWS has a goal of purchasing an adoption trailer for the Wayne County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center. The estimated cost of an adoption trailer is $60,000. Adoption trailers are a vital component to helping adoptable dogs find their forever homes. They provide shelter at events, a space for dogs to decompress in between meet & greets, and allow for the Wayne County Dog Shelter to bring more dogs at once to events, saving precious staff time and resources. We hope you’ll consider making a donation to help us meet our goal this year!
Dogs Playing for Life
Dogs Playing for Life is a nonprofit with a mission to enhance the quality of life of shelter dogs.
Long- time sheltering of dogs, in kennel facilities, can compound the feeling of being alone and abandoned. Many shelters cannot meet the physical and emotional needs, particularly for those dogs that struggle with behaviors and are perceived aggressive. Dogs Playing for Life effectively tackles these critical issues that shelter dogs face with a novel, hands-on approach that revolves around opportunities to play in groups – every day.
With the amount of dogs in the shelter care, there is no way every dog has a chance to spend time outside of their kennel, every day. With the implementation of the Dogs Playing for Life Program, multiple dogs would be able to get out of their kennel, and into a 20-30 minute playgroup session.
A 30 minute play session with other dogs can be the equivalent to a two hour leash walk.
- Increased freedom, supporting both physical and mental health
- Spending time off-leash and out of their kennels reduces stress, and allows them to relax in and outside of the kennel.
- Maximized Resources. Playgroups can provide the fastest way to attend to the largest number of dogs in the shortest amount of time.
- More Natural, Calm Environment. Rather than keeping dogs isolated from one another, play groups allow dogs to interact and bond with other dogs, creating a more peaceful kennel environment.
- Help with assessing and determining social skills more accurately
- Training Support. Allowing dogs to participate in playgroups can lead to higher receptivity during standard manners and/or basic obedience training sessions.
- Behavior modification
- Reduction in fear, anxiety and aggression, as well as barrier reactivity and on-leach reactivity.
- Better and increased adoptions. Playgroups allow everyone a chance to get to know each other. Playgroups help to make better matches with adopters by allowing observers to gather relevant, helpful information about the dogs.
The time socializing in playgroups also paves the way for more positive interactions with adopter’s current dogs. Meet and greets with the current dogs are less stressful and safer overall.