RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) – Logan County Animal Care and Control has launched a new program to help shelter dogs find their forever homes.
The “Office Dog of the Day” program provides dogs with socialization opportunities while giving local offices a unique way to reduce stress.
“Doggy Day Dates was our original program,” said Aric Tousignant, Director of Logan County Animal Care and Control. “We were looking for people to take the dogs out for the day, walk them and get them socialized.”
Logan County Clerk Stacy Watkins heard about the opportunity and reached out, offering to bring a dog into her office. After the first dog was adopted within two days, the “Office Dog of the Day” program was born.
“As soon as I heard about Doggy Day Dates, I knew we could help,” Watkins said. “We’re all animal lovers, and having a dog in the office has been a stress reliever, especially with the pressures of the upcoming election.”
The expanded program allows offices to host a dog for a few hours, several days a week. The dogs get a break from shelter life, interact with new people and increase their chances of adoption.
To ensure the dogs are well-suited for office environments, the shelter takes special care to prepare them in advance.
“We actually test our dogs in our own office first,” Tousignant said. “We want to make sure they’re calm, low-key and comfortable before placing them in an outside office. We’re not just sending random dogs into the community; we want to ensure they’re a good fit for the environment they’re going into.”
Once the right dog is selected to visit an office, they are then delivered and picked up by Animal Care and Control.
“Depending on your situation, we’ll bring the dog in for four to seven hours a day, up to five days a week,” Tousignant said. “It’s a win-win for everyone. The dogs get to explore new surroundings, and the offices enjoy the joy they bring.”
Now on their third dog, the program will be expanding to the Logan County Public Library by the end of this week.
“The dogs get exposed to more people, and people who might not visit the shelter get to see how great they are,” Tousignant said.
“Even if they don’t get adopted right away, we know it’s better than being in a kennel. They get loved on all day, and it brings so much happiness to our office,” Watkins said.
The ideas behind these programs recognize that not everyone is in a position to have a dog full-time.
“A lot of people would love to have a dog, but sometimes it’s just not possible because of landlords, apartment policies, or work schedules,” Tousignant said. “This program allows people to still spend time with a dog and make a difference without that long-term commitment.”
However, Tousignant also admits that while this program has been successful, it’s not a permanent solution to the larger issue of low adoption rates and shelter overcrowding.
“We’re getting dogs more exposure, which helps, but we know this isn’t a long-term fix,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to get these dogs adopted into loving homes, but this program is a good start in getting them seen and socialized.”
Logan County Animal Care and Control is looking to expand it further, bringing more dogs into offices and even planning sleepover parties for dogs, called “Sleepover Paw-ties.”
“We’re trying to think outside the box to get more exposure for these dogs,” Tousignant said. “It’s all about giving the dogs a better life and helping the community in the process.”
For more information on the Office Dog of the Day program or Doggy Day Dates, visit the Logan County Animal Care and Control Facebook page or call 270-726-2186.
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