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Many animal shelters in rural areas live a continuously cash strapped existence.  In fact it’s almost cruel how badly some of the animals living conditions are in a shelter.  These small shelters like the Humane Society of the Nature Coast are always on the look out for new ways to get animals adopted and bring in more cash. 

This particular shelter found a unique way of doing both by getting people to live in the shelter…if only for a week.  The shelter/kennel first initiated the program last year in a desperate bid to bring in money to fix their facilities and expand their services. 

Unique to be certain, the event called, “Heart to Heart Week” involves volunteers, including the Executive Director of the society, living in one of the shelter kennels with a dog for the week. 

The program is quite the success too.  Although, according to Joanne Schoch it takes a little getting used too, "Any little noise, the dogs start barking…. It was wonderful for them… It is a great opportunity to teach them a little bit more of the social graces that they need to know in a home.”

It seems that the dogs really enjoy the program more than the people involved.  Living around the clock with a human gave the dogs a chance to get used to people, while also helping them relax and even work on a few of their own pet tricks. 

The humans who volunteer get a little free time away from responsibility and work, plus the companionship of a great dog.  Some businesses even got volunteers from their employee base to serve twenty four hour shifts in the kennels during the week.

This project brings in money by asking visitors and folks from around the neighbourhood to ‘buy’ the kennel volunteers, minutes of time outside for $1 a minute.  Last year, this method brought in $16,000 for the shelter and adoptions for the week rose by 40%.  Hopefully, they will have an even better event this year.

Source: http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/sleepinginthedogpoundvolunteer-1365#embedded_video