In many animal shelters, dogs do not leave the premises until they are adopted.
But in Walla Walla, shelter dogs are getting a chance to explore the outside world thanks to the Blue Mountain Humane Society’s Pawsitive Adventure program, which was launched a year ago.
Several days a week, volunteers take dogs on field trips to wineries, cafes, hiking trails and more.
“It’s wonderful to have the dogs at the shelter, but this is a completely different experience,” said Bonnie Terrio, a regular volunteer. “You can see them relax.” The dogs can sniff and socialize and “just be dogs,” she said.
Blue Mountain Humane Society volunteers Bonnie Terrio (left) and Machelle Colligan (right) lead the dogs onto a bridge over Mill Creek. (Photo credit: Steve Lenz / Blue Mountain Humane Society)
Loud Number of animals in the sheltera non-profit organization. But many animal shelters are still full: According to the organization, in 2024, 322,000 more animals will have entered animal shelters than left them.
At Blue Mountain Humane SocietyCats and small dogs walk quite quickly. This is not the case with larger dogs. Some of the dogs at Blue Mountain have been there for over a year.
“Our kennels are almost always full,” said Dian Ver Valen, the shelter’s executive director. “And these are larger dogs that are much harder to find families for. They end up staying for a very long time.”
Volunteers test the dogs’ ability to handle things like stairs, bikes and loud noises – all information they can pass on to potential adopters. (Photo credit: Steve Lenz / Blue Mountain Humane Society)
A stay in a shelter for more than a few weeks can take a toll on a dog’s emotional state, says Ver Valen. The Pawsitive Adventures program focuses on these dogs who stay in the shelter longer and gives them a chance to relax.
The program also serves as a marketing tool. During their field trips, volunteers take lots of photos that the shelter can then share on social media. When potential families see a dog sitting on a vineyard—rather than in a cage—they can better imagine that dog as a part of their lives.
By participating in Pawsitive Adventures, the shelter also gains more information about each individual dog. As Ver Valen said: “Then when we talk to potential adopters, we can give them a lot more information: ‘Oh, they love playing fetch. They love swimming, they’re very interested in water.’ Or ‘We’ve taken them to these cafes in the city and they’ve done really well there.'”
Betzy enjoys a puppy cup in downtown Walla Walla. (Photo credit: Steve Lenz / Blue Mountain Humane Society)
This can help attract potential adopters and increase the success rate. “The more we know about the dog, the more successful we can be in matching it with the right family,” said Ver Valen. Several dogs have even met their forever families on the excursions.
And while no one enjoys the program more than the dogs, it’s also very popular with the volunteers.
Karen Maxwell also volunteers with the Pawsitive Adventures program. After a hike, they often visit the town of Walla Walla. (Photo credit: Steve Lenz / Blue Mountain Humane Society)
“My favorite volunteer days are when we do Pawsitive Adventures,” says Machelle Colligan, a regular volunteer. “As soon as we get them out, the barking stops and they’re just much calmer. That’s a much truer picture of their true personalities.”
Karen Maxwell, another regular volunteer, agreed. “That’s what they are like when they’re out here,” she said.
