Dogs at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society might have a new park in their future after a surprise donation of play equipment.
Executive director James Oppenheimer learned in early June that Pheasantland Industries would be donating agility equipment for the Humane Society’s dogs.
“We were not aware it was coming,” Oppenheimer said. “It’s proved very helpful, and already the dogs seem to love it.”
For now, the new agility equipment is used in a play yard outside the Humane Society. But with the unexpected donation, Oppenheimer is looking for donors to help renovate it into a full dog park.
“It is about a half-million to do the renovation, and we looking for donors who might want to put their name on this new project,” Oppenheimer said.
The residential animals are taken out to play every day, he said.
“It’s an extra enrichment, and I know our volunteers enjoy literally teaching our dogs new tricks,” he said.
Pheasantland Industries is an enterprise fund within the South Dakota Department of Corrections that creates many customizable goods for various nonprofits and organizations.
“We’ve ordered clothing and apparel from Pheasantland and had a good relationship with them,” Oppenheimer said. “The agility course is a huge bonus. We appreciate them donating to us.”
Oppenheimer said the Humane Society has a good relationship with the Department of Corrections, and inmates have helped train dogs using agility equipment in previous years.
“We hope that training helps our animals get adopted sooner,” Oppenheimer said.
The agility equipment includes items such as a teeter-totter and a balance walk.
“We have some good ideas and possibilities to expand our training program,” Oppenheimer said. “And our behavior specialist on staff is very excited about it too.”
On top of the planned renovations for the dog park, the Humane Society is having a successful year already.
“We’re having another big year at the Humane Society. In 2023, we had a record number of adoptions: 3,807,” Oppenheimer said. “The goal for this year is to have 4,000 adoptions, and we are pretty much on course for that.”
Through the end of May, the Humane Society had more than 1,642 adoptions for the year. Oppenheimer said animal intake also is ahead of schedule — up 16 percent.
“We’re welcoming more and more people and hope they will come find their forever friend here,” Oppenheimer said.
The Humane Society needs donations to replenish dog and cat food supplies in addition to ongoing sponsorships and donations to support caring for the animals, he said.
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