Utah's Perfect Pointers DBA GSP Rescue Southwest: KONG Toys Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The product -- five red Kongs -- was used to enrich the lives of some of our 35 rescue dogs while they await their new homes. There are two large-size and three regular-size Kongs that I stuffed with treats. The dogs love them and it makes life easier for the foster parents when they get a new dog and can entertain it for a while between training sessions. It's a great reward and good therapy for dogs while they're being crate-trained.

A number of our dogs are kenneled when we first get them for 10 days to ensure they are healthy and not harboring diseases before going into the general population. This can be a long period for dogs as active as the pointing breeds. Kongs are great therapy for the dogs while they're going through their isolation period.

How many pets did this grant help?

The Kongs are used among 20 of the 35 dogs currently in our program. We sanitize between dogs and move the Kongs to different kennels where the dogs are awaiting vetting, recovering from spay surgery or just in their isolation period.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Kynzi came to us on Jan. 17, 2017. She was suffering from separation anxiety and released by her former foster parent. Not only was Kynzi afflicted with separation anxiety, but she was also very timid and submissive. The Kongs were invaluable to integrating her into a group with other dogs and keeping her busy while we left her “alone” for longer and longer periods. They also helped occupy her and get her used to cats in close proximity. Kynzi still needs other dogs in her foster and new home to make her feel secure, but she’s great “home alone” with them now! No people required for all-day companionship! Kynzi is available for adoption at www.petfinder.com/petdetail/37320418.