Walk, play with shelter dog to relieve their caged stress

Shelter dogs are in cages too long.

What are you doing today, tomorrow, this week? What's on your "to do list?"

One thing should be a regular drive to the Manatee County Animal Services shelter and sit outside in a play yard with a lonesome dog. Every half hour you can take a different dog and in two hours four lonely strays will see the sun, smell the grass and you just sit there to keep them company.

Many have been here for seven to eight months! Two are gorgeous "pointer bird dogs," sweet as can be.

There's a shortage of people in Manatee County with compassion for their plight. Last summer, there was a record high of abandoned dogs, so our 100 cages held 150 dogs. Two to a cage in many cases!

The demonstrators were here in full force against euthanasia but not one came in to help us feed, wash, and walk the dogs. Now many are lying there doing nothing.

Toys not allowed because of the danger they'll choke on them and block the drains. Several have cage stress and walk in circles, licking their paws raw.

The cure: A kind person to come in a few hours a week and talk to them or read a newspaper, a few chapters in your book. Just sit there and they'll love your company.

Just call 941-742-5933, ext. 8314 and ask for the date of the 1.5 hour introductory volunteer class, usually a Saturday morning.

To obtain an application, visit www.mymanatee.org/pets, or stop by the shelter to obtain one at Manatee County Animal Services, 305 25th St. W., Palmetto.

Dee Griffin-Cochin, volunteer

Palmetto

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Walk, play with shelter dog to relieve their caged stress ."