The Austin Animal Center announced Wednesday that two volunteer-run programs that support the center have received grants to fund projects to train dogs, improve their quality of life and ultimately make them more adoptable. A $3,000 grant from the Animal Farm Foundation was awarded to Dogs Out Loud, a nonprofit organization that focuses on canine behavior rehabilitation. The money went toward construction at the Animal Center of a “thinking walk,” completed earlier this month, with activity stations for obedience training and enrichment. A $6,000 grant has been awarded to Friends of Austin Animal Center to create a play group enrichment program allowing interaction among shelter dogs in an off-leash setting. According to an announcement from the Animal Services Office, “More than 100 municipal animal shelters throughout the United States have implemented this life-saving program with successful results.” Staff and volunteer training for the program, which begins Aug. 22, will be provided by Dogs Playing for Life founder and Director Aimee Sadler.
Two grants will help train shelter dogs
