Making a shelter dog's day — one 'day out' at a time in Indianapolis

Lady is a mixed-breed dog with white spots and a wagging tail. She spends most of her time inside a kennel, waiting to be adopted.

But Colleen Walker, who works at Indianapolis Animal Care Services, says the Doggy Day Out program helps dogs like Lady relax — and lets staff see their real personalities.

"The kennel environment is really stressful for dogs," Walker said. "Some can handle it and they're okay, and some really cannot. And there are some dogs that in the kennels, they react completely differently than they would outside."

A growing number of animal shelters nationwide are turning to 'Doggy Day Out' programs, short outings that let shelter dogs spend a few hours out in the world. Here in Indianapolis, both Animal Care Services and Indy Humane have joined the trend, opening their programs to the public to get more dogs out of the shelter environment and to find an adopter.

The shelter is currently over capacity and getting dogs out, even for a few hours, can make a difference, Walker said. A new $7 million facility, planned for next year, is expected to help ease overcrowding.

Indianapolis Animal Care Services Director Amanda DeHoney-Hinkle said in a statement the Doggy Day Out program is another way to improve dogs' well-being in the meantime.
 

"Doggy Day Outs are truly a win-win," DeHoney-Hinkle said. "Our dogs get the love, exercise, and enrichment they need, and participants get the joy of spending time with a dog and helping out the shelter without the long-term commitment of adoption."

Participants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid ID, and a working vehicle with state-required minimum amounts of insurance, according to IACS.

Walker said Doggy Day Outs can be a good option for people who aren't ready to foster or who are thinking about adopting. The time spent together gives potential adopters a better sense of a dog's personality — and the feedback they share helps shelter staff match dogs with the right homes.

She said the outings also help dogs burn off energy and return calmer — and more approachable — when potential adopters visit the shelter.

"It does allow us to see that decompressed version, even if it's a little bit decompressed because it is only a day," Walker said. "But you do see a significant difference from the time they go out to when they come in."

Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoa or by email at fanderson@wfyi.org