It's no secret that animals can be stressed out in shelter settings while waiting their turn to call their own.
New and unknown smells, sounds, people, and other animals make animals nervous. Staff and volunteers are spending extra time socializing, walking, and making sure they are as comfortable as possible in their temporary housing. One of the biggest ways we improve their stay is by providing consistent enrichment.
Enrichment is the provision of mental or physical stimulation to animals to encourage natural behavior, to create their own choices and control in their environment, and to stimulate curiosity so that animals do not feel stressed or bored. It's a stimulating process. If animals are not allowed these things, they may experience fear, anxiety, and distress, making it difficult for them to be adopted.
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Midland Humane Society provides regular nutritional supplements for animals that target different types of stimulation.
Cognitive enhancement helps promote critical thinking through puzzles, challenging objects, or training.
Sensory enrichments can stimulate an animal's various senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch), such as colorful mirror balls, scented blankets, calming music, and even ice cubes in the water. It focuses on items.
The purpose of physical enrichment is to make changes to the enclosure to create new environments for the animal to explore, such as boxes or sniffing mats.
Social enrichment involves direct interaction with other creatures through direct or indirect contact, such as simply brushing their fur, reading a book to them, or interacting with other animals. You can facilitate play groups.
Stimulation in the form of food is always a fan favorite, and animals love getting special treats like Kongs and puppies to keep them busy.
We have a schedule that allows for a different type of enrichment each day, so our animals never experience the same enrichment two days in a row.
Pets don't have to be in a shelter environment to enjoy all of these fun concepts. You can easily incorporate these ideas to create a rich environment for your pet at home.
Do you have a puppy that likes to get into the trash can? Maybe it's time to buy a Kong or puzzle feeder to help you stay focused on tasks for longer periods of time.
Do you have a kitty who likes to scratch on the couch instead of using that fancy scratcher you just bought? Make a shred sack by rolling up expensive treats in a paper bag and send Fluffy out to scratch. Why not try opening it?
By providing enrichment, you can reduce some of the undesirable behaviors you may experience with your pet by simply redirecting your pet's brain in a more creative direction. result? Both pets and owners are happy!
If you are interested in donating items that MHS uses to enrich animals, check out our wishlist on Amazon or Chewy. To find this out, visit our website (midlandshumanesociety.org) and[ヘルプ方法]tab's[ウィッシュ リスト]please choose.
Rudy
Rudy A 3 year old black neutered male lab with a typical outgoing and cheerful personality. He has a lot of energy and wants his new home to have plenty of space to run and play. Rudy will benefit from continued basic obedience training to work on manners that will make him a true gentleman. He does not always properly introduce himself to new dogs, so we recommend that he meet and greet the existing dog in the home before adopting him.
zion
zion is a 12-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthair who is an advanced sweetheart who is ready to warm your lap or couch cushion. He prefers to spend the day taking peaceful naps and scratching his head a lot.
Dora
Dora Although she is a 6-year-old spayed female boxer mix, she is still very young at heart, so don't let her gray face fool you. She is a friendly girl who enjoys playing fetch and running around with her canine friends. Her calm and easy-going personality makes her a great companion for active families as well as those who prefer a slower pace.
rocco
rocco He's a 1-year-old neutered male lab mix who may look like an adult, but he's still very much a puppy. He loves to play, cuddle, and make you laugh with his antics. We are looking for an owner who will continue basic obedience training and socialization.
MHS is open weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See available pets online at midlandshumanesociety.org/adopt
