All the smells, that’s what Abby wants. She’s a brindle boxer mix waiting at PAWS and More for her forever home. She enjoyed a doggy day adventure out of the shelter with the KCII News staff. It’s a new program the shelter will be launching May 18th where community members can take dogs out for two-hour expeditions, whether that’s getting an ice cream treat, walking the Kewash Trail, or cuddling up on the sofa at home. PAWS is the only shelter in Iowa selected and is the smallest of the 100 across the U.S. In this program and study by Arizona State University. The study is analyzing the effect of these small outings on the behavior of the shelter dogs.

PAWS board member Terri Wood says there are many benefits to getting the dogs out in the community, “You know, if you can imagine just being a kennel all day, they just have so much energy. And we take the dogs out for walks every day and we play with them, but it’s not the same, they’re still at the shelter. So, once you get the dogs out of the shelter they can use their noses on the world and smell all sorts of new smells, and meet new people. And that’s a big part of the program too, when people meet the dogs in public the dog gets a chance to meet people that he or she would’ve never met in the shelter. So a lot of these dogs end up getting adopted which ultimately is the greatest result for them, is just meeting people they never would’ve met before.”

The shelter’s goal is to have 40 dogs do these outings in 30 days. Abby got to enjoy a car ride, check out Central Park, have a few treats, get lots of ear scratches, and make friends with the KCII Radio staff. She gave a few kisses in return. To sign up to take a shelter dog out for an adventure call PAWS and More.