Give a Shelter Dog a Special Day Out!
We are excited to introduce our new program, "Paws Around Town", designed to give our shelter dogs the opportunity to explore the world beyond the shelter walls. Through this initiative, volunteers and fosters can take a dog out for a day or even an overnight stay, giving them much-needed enrichment and a chance to experience life in a more relaxed environment. This not only provides the dogs with valuable experiences that improve their well-being but also helps us learn more about their behavior outside of the shelter, which can be crucial for their future adoptions.
The "Paws Around Town" program is available exclusively to dogs that have been in our shelter for seven days or more, with priority given to dogs who would benefit the most from this kind of experience. Whether you're a foster or volunteer, your participation helps our dogs grow, gain confidence, and improve their chances of finding a forever home.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are not already a foster or volunteer with the shelter, you will need to fill out a foster application and send it in to foster@aacounty.org or bring it into the shelter. This application requires a copy of your ID, your current pet information including rabies, and your home information. Once approved to foster, you will receive a copy of the Paws Around Town Handbook and be able to participate right away!
You are welcome to take the pup all around town as long as you are going somewhere dog friendly and you are keeping the pup on leash the entire time. You are also allowed to take the dog to your own home, but they are not allowed to interact with any other animals including resident pets.
Unfortunately, this program is only open to Anne Arundel County residents at this time.
You will be sent on your day trip together with a leash and harness fitted to the pup. We can provide bowls, treats, toys, etc. upon request so just let us know what you need at pick up!
Any dog who came into the shelter as a stray must be put on a stray hold and are not eligible to leave the shelter during this time in case an owner steps forward. Our new dogs are also more likely to get adopted during this time so we want to make sure they are here to meet adopters!"