CLEVELAND, Ohio — If you’ve ever wanted to spend a day with an adorable pup but aren’t ready for the full-time commitment of pet ownership, the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) has the perfect solution.
Dog’s Day Out Cleveland, a new program launched by the Cleveland APL, gives shelter dogs a chance to swap their kennels for a day of adventure with members of the community.
Whether it’s a leisurely stroll through the city, a trip to a dog-friendly brewery or just a cozy afternoon on the couch, this program lets dogs relax and experience the world beyond the shelter.
Now open to the public, Dog’s Day Out Cleveland offers field trips on Fridays and Saturdays, with three time slots available each day.
Registration opens 30 days in advance and closes 24 hours before the outing.
For more information or to sign up for Dog’s Day Out Cleveland, visit the Cleveland APL’s website.
A break from the kennel—and a step toward adoption
Ayse Dunlap, vice president of operations at the Cleveland APL, emphasized that these outings do more than just provide a break for the dogs — they also increase their chances of finding a forever home.
“It’s great for the dogs to get out of the kennel, but the success part beyond that is it also helps them get adopted,” Dunlap said.
“It gives them exposure. It invites new people in the community to be advocates for the shelter and for pets up for adoption.
“So it really casts this broad net in a way that we haven’t been able to before.”
For shelter dogs, even a short escape from the kennel can make a world of difference.
“We are a really good shelter, but we are still dogs and kennels, and that’s not a natural environment for them,” Dunlap said.
“Even though we are committed to getting them out multiple times a day for walks, what’s different about this program is that it gets a dog out of a shelter for a good chunk of time.”
Participants are encouraged to spend at least two hours with the dogs, but they can extend their adventures for the full day, as long as the pup is returned by 5 p.m.
Cleveland embraces Dog’s Day Out
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’ve been actually really pleasantly surprised by just how much interest there has been,” Dunlap said.
“You never know when you’re launching something new if it’s going to take, and this one seems to be taking.”
In fact, the program’s initial time slots filled up in just a few hours. Dunlap said shelter staff is working on adding additional time slots next month.
“We announced the program and posted it on social media and we are doing a bit of a slow rollout,” Dunlap said.
“We only opened it up right now for walks and for field trips on Fridays and Saturdays, with three time slots each day, and those all got booked for the month overnight.”
VCA Charities: A key player in launching the program
The Cleveland APL didn’t launch Dog’s Day Out Cleveland alone. The program was made possible through support from VCA Charities, a nonprofit organization that introduced the Dog Day Out field trip initiative in 2023.
“VCA’s support was crucial,” Dunlap said. “They started this whole process for us by even letting us know that this program existed, and then they paid for two of our staff members to go out and receive the training on how to implement the program back here in Cleveland at the shelter.
“They supplied us with everything that we needed to launch the program.”
Where can you take a shelter pup?
Participants in Dog’s Day Out Cleveland are encouraged to explore some of the city’s pet-friendly spots, such as Lucas Barkery, Nano Brew and Visible Voice Books.
“There are a couple of places around us that are really pet-friendly, that are excited to have our dogs come in on these field trips,” Dunlap said.
“Nano Brew is a dog-friendly brewery that welcomes our dogs on these field trips.
“Flying Monkey, you can go and have a drink and have the dog with you.
“So, yeah, there are a lot of really fun places that are happy to participate in this, which is really exciting.”
There are a few rules to keep in mind. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times, and they cannot visit dog parks or interact with other pets, to ensure everyone’s safety.
Additionally, participants should not bring the dog home if they have other pets, to avoid improper introductions.
A rewarding experience for all
The program isn’t just beneficial for the dogs; it’s great for the human participants, too.
“If you can’t have a pet yourself, but you want to spend time with a dog, this is perfect,” Dunlap said.
“We’ve all heard that time with dogs, with pets, is stress relieving for the person, too.
“So you can feel really good about what you’re doing by giving a dog a break from the shelter and by advocating for it to have a home, but you’re also getting that benefit of time with a free companion, which is great for your health.”
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