SPCA of Texas receives $25,000 from Maddie's Fund

SPCA of Texas receives $25,000 from Maddie's Fund

Texas Dog Magazine Staff Reports

DALLAS — The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas has received a $25,000 grant from California-based Maddie’s Fund, a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, a news release said.

Courtesy of the Maddie's Fund Facebook

The grant will provide resources for the pilot study of the SPCA of Texas’ new Shy and Fearful Foster Program, which aims to specifically focus on animals, brought in through the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit, that exhibit shy, fearful or anxious behavior.

The release explained that historically, most confiscated dogs live in kennels, sometimes for months, until their case is resolved, but long-term kenneling can be stressful for dogs.

The grant will allow for the implementation and evaluation of the new program, where dogs will be fostered in homes where caregivers will follow a structured training plan and monitor the dog’s progress, the release said.

The study aims to determine if foster homes provide a less stressful environment for particularly fearful dogs to decompress and heal, in addition to evaluating how foster care impacts dogs’ progress.

Ultimately, the goal is to get these animals adopted, while not rushing the healing process, the release said.

For more information visit spca.org.