From 'Aggressive' to Lovable Doofus 🐾🐶

Elvis was getting stressed at the shelter. Our grant gave him a chance to shine outside of a kennel. Elvis is a puppy at heart [View this email in your browser]( Dear Friend, Shelter employees do everything they can for the pets in their care, but nothing can change the fact that shelters are stressful places for pets. That's why we have grant programs designed to get pets out of shelters so that they can be their best selves. This can make all the difference for pets like Elvis. A 1-year-old German shepherd, Elvis arrived at Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin as a stray. A young, working-breed dog, he was bursting with energy. For dogs like him, that energy can quickly turn into frustration, and sure enough, "he started to show signs of kennel stress and aggression after being in the shelter for a couple of weeks," says HSSW's Kaitie Swedlund. Thanks to a Petfinder Foundation Dog Field Trip Grant, HSSW had expanded its Doggy Day Out program, allowing volunteers to get more dogs out of the shelter for short breaks. "We have found that the dogs involved in the Doggy Day Out program have quicker rates of adoption," Swedlund says. "Some of our amazing volunteers selected Elvis for a Doggy Day Out adventure," Swedlund says. "They were able to recognize what a wonderful boy he was outside of his kennel. He rode well in the car and did great meeting people and other dogs." The volunteers were so taken with Elvis, they decided to foster him in their home so that they could continue working with him on his manners and provide structure and routine for him. In his foster home, Elvis revealed his goofy nature. "If you are a morning person, Elvis is your guy," his foster mom reported. "At 5 a.m., he’s already on his fifth cup of coffee – or so it seems." On the other hand, "If you want poise and grace, Elvis ain’t your man. He trips over his own feet, falls over backwards, and thinks the word 'sit' means sprawl out and roll over." Now certified as a lovable doofus, Elvis was adopted after just a week and a half in foster care. He now has a forever home with two doggy siblings to play with. "Doggy Day Out was Elvis's chance to shine and show everyone what a good boy he could be," Swedlund says. Petfinder Foundation grants give thousands of dogs like Elvis a chance to shine every year. [Your gift will help more pets like him.]( From all of us at the Petfinder Foundation, thank you for all that you do to help homeless pets. Emily Fromm Chief Development Officer The Petfinder Foundation [Donate]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Petfinderfoundation.com]( [Petfinderfoundation.com]( [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( Copyright © 2024 The Petfinder Foundation, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you opted in at petfinder.com or petfinderfoundation.org, or because you donated to the Petfinder Foundation (thank you!). Our mailing address is: The Petfinder Foundation 4729 East Sunrise Drive #119Tucson, AZ 85718 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list]( [Mailchimp Email Marketing](