Volunteers work with dogs, Lovett and Beef, at the Dogs Day Out program launch event. Photo by Rachel Mills
Jiffy will be available to go on field trip adventures as part of the Dogs Day Out program at the Halifax Humane Society. Photo by Rachel Mills
Sally Moore sits with Lovett at the launch of Halifax Humane Society's Dogs Day Out. Photo by Rachel Mills
Halifax Humane Society CEO Sean Hawkins holds Jiffy at the launch of Dogs Day Out. Photo by Rachel Mills
Margaret and Cliff Grosvenor, owners of The Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure pose for a photo with Jiffy, while volunteer Bobby Varma works with Pawlyn. Photo by Rachel Mills
Luci Racco, Animal Behavior and Open Paw team member, holds Jiffy. Photo by Rachel Mills
Jiffy plays with sharks at the Dogs Day Out launch event. Photo by Rachel Mills
Halifax Humane Society volunteers and team members prep for the Dogs Day Out launch event. Photo by Rachel Mills
Jiffy poses for the camera. Photo by Rachel Mills
The Halifax Humane Society has launched “Dogs Day Out”, a new program that allows members of the community to take dogs on field trip adventures around Volusia County.
A “Dogs Day Out” launch event was hosted at The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure on Wednesday, July 1, with Halifax Humane Society team members, volunteers and dogs. The program is designed to reduce stress for the shelter's dogs, help volunteers who can’t commit to having a permanent pet, and help dogs find homes faster.
"We're allowing the public to come and take a dog out of the shelter on an adventure for a couple of hours,” said Sean Hawkins, CEO of Halifax Humane Society. “What we're hoping to do with the program is get dogs acclimated to real-life experiences.”
Volunteer Sally Moore was paired up with a dog named Lovett at the launch event.
“This makes me feel like I'm doing something that's good for both the dog and for me,” Moore said. “Sometimes it seems like the volunteer gets more out of it than the dog.”
To participate in the initiative, members of the community can visit the Halifax Humane Society between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. any day of the week to check out a dog.
Each volunteer will receive instructions through a brief orientation, then select a dog for their adventure. They will also check out a “Dogs Day Out” backpack filled with supplies and a list of activities best suited to each dog. Each dog should be returned to the shelter by noon to avoid missing any adoption opportunities during regular Halifax Humane Society hours.
The idea for the program originated in Maui, Hawaii, as tourists visiting the island found themselves missing their pets at home, Hawkins said.
“So, they'd go to the Maui Humane Society and they'd be able to take a shelter dog to the beach for the day," Hawkins said. "I’m grateful that we have it here now.”
The first 125 participants in the program will receive a T-shirt, ball cap and two 50% off coupons for tickets to The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure.
Cliff and Margaret Grosvenor, owners of the aquarium, said they were grateful to host the launch event because of what it means to the dogs.
“Obviously we love animals,” Cliff Grosvenor said. “Anything we can do for a rescue, we'll do it day in and day out.”
To make reservations for a “Dogs Day Out” adventure, email [email protected].
