Take a shelter dog out for the day: BrightSide Animal Shelter launches new program

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond, has launched its new Dog Day Out Program. This initiative allows community members to take shelter dogs on short outings, providing them a temporary break from the shelter environment.

The program aims to reduce daily stress for the dogs and offers a rewarding way for the community to support homeless pets without a long-term commitment. Participants can help increase a dog's visibility for adoption by sharing photos and stories from their outings, allowing potential adopters to see the dog's personality beyond its kennel.

The outings can range from a walk around town, a hike on a favorite trail or a visit to a local pet-friendly business, to a relaxing afternoon at home. These opportunities provide dogs with a break from the daily stresses of shelter life.

Community members interested in participating can complete a Dog Day Out application on BrightSide Animal Center's website. The application process helps staff thoughtfully match participants with dogs based on experience, comfort level and the type of outing they are interested in providing.

Savanah Wellman, assistant Director at BrightSide Animal Center, emphasized the program's positive impact. “We are very excited to get our community more involved at Brightside. Even just a few hours outside of the shelter can make a huge difference for a dog,” Wellman said. She added that these outings help reduce stress, provide the team with valuable information on how each dog behaves in a home or community setting and, most importantly, allow the dogs to show their true personalities and potentially meet their new forever families.

For more information or to apply for the Dog Day Out Program, go to the BrightSide Animal Center website at www.brightsideanimals.org. The shelter can also be contacted directly at 541-923-0882.