The Williamson County Animal Center has received a $50,000 grant to launch a new canine behavior training class that officials hope will deter the number of pet surrenders they receive from three Middle Tennessee counties.
The Friends of the Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC) group recently announced the grant, awarded by the PEDIGREE Foundation. It will support a collective effort between the WCAC, Cheatham County Animal Control, Maury County Animal Shelter and Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue and provide training for 400 at-risk dogs in Williamson, Cheatham and Maury Counties, officials noted.
“Nearly one-quarter of the dogs brought to us in 2023 for surrender that had an explanation of why were due to behavioral or other issues that may have been resolved with proper training,” Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC) Director Ondrea Johnson said of the new initiative, noting that its focus will be on retraining dogs in the hopes of diverting people from surrendering them.
Johnson’s group regularly gives to the animal shelter for programs, adoptions and medical services needed for the animals.
But the pet populations at shelters like the one in Williamson County continue to grow.
Non-profit leaders like Johnson say shelters and rescues across the U.S. are experiencing over-crowdedness and increased length of stay due to insufficient adoption rates. Because of this, they are increasingly investing in resources that keep animals out of their care to begin with, she said.
Group classes and one-on-one sessions are backed by the new grant funding.
But, the grant-funded classes and sessions are not open to public registration, officials said, noting that the participating shelters and groups in each county will reach out and invite selected pet owners to join based on interactions they have had with families considering surrender.
The Maury County Animal Shelter recently posted more information about how it is selecting people for training via social media.
“If you are an owner on our wait list and your reason is a behavior issue, or you will be scheduling to surrender for a behavior issue, please email us with the information about the issue,” the post read. It also said the new program was for all dogs in the county. “They do not have to have been adopted from the shelter.
“This is not basic obedience training but rather an option to work with you and your dog on specific behaviors that will keep your pet in your home. Please share this important new option available to Maury County residents and their dogs.”
More information about the program can be found at FriendsofWCAC.org.
The Williamson County shelter, 1006 Grigsby Hayes Court in Franklin, is open to the public from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sunday.
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