Do you love dogs, but you aren't sure if you are ready to adopt?

PET TALK

Do you love dogs, but you aren’t sure if you are ready to adopt?

Take an approved dog out of the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society for the day! Time away from the shelter environment can allow us to learn so much about the dog’s behavior, as well as give them a break from the anxieties of their kennel. It’s also a great way to get to know a dog before you commit to adopting them. It doesn’t cost anything to participate, but there are some rules to follow:

1. You must be over 18 with valid ID.

2. Dogs are required to be on a harness at all times for safety reasons.

3. Stay with the dog at all times.

4. Only one dog per car.

5. The dog is not allowed to have unsupervised one on-one contact with other dogs. If other dogs/animals are encountered, such as on a walk, that is OK as long as totally supervised.

6. Do not take the dog to non-dog friendly places.

7. Return the Animal by 3:00 PM.

If you want to sign up to take an animal for Happy Hour, please visit our website and sign up for a day and time that works for you. You can pick any dog listed on the website except for young puppies because they aren’t fully vaccinated yet. Bring your ID, and we will have you fill out some quick paperwork before you take the dog. When you come back, we ask that you fill out a “report card” so we can learn different things about what you did with them and how they acted in certain situations.

Shannan Clevenger has been participating in the Happy Hour for a while, and has this to say:

 I know a lot of people might have difficulty adopting a pet, but I would guess we could all find a couple hours to offer. I’ve been doing happy hour for a couple months now and love to take Duke out. Duke is a dog that’s been at the shelter for quite some time now. I feel like Duke recognizes me now and gets really excited and ready to jump into the car for our next adventure.

 It’s nothing big, we usually go take a walk down by the lake, or a stroll through downtown and end our time with nuggets, or a burger or a pup cup. I would encourage anyone who has a couple hours to go out, grab a pup, and spend some time with these very loving and deserving animals.

 The Greater Hillsdale Humane Society is located at 3881 Tripp Road, Osseo, MI. Call them at 517-523-2308 if you are interested in trying a Happy Hour with a shelter dog or to have any questions answered.