I took a shelter animal out for a ‘Dog Day Out’ adventure. Here’s how it went. – San Diego Union-Tribune

How often do you get the chance to spend the day with a new four-legged friend free of charge, no strings attached?

For San Diego locals and tourists, it’s recently become surprisingly simple through the San Diego Humane Society’s “Dog Day Out” program, which lets them take adoptable pups on drives, walks and even home before returning them at the end of the day.

The program, which began in April, was recently expanded to let participants pick up dogs at campuses in San Diego, El Cajon, Escondido and Oceanside, giving the animals much-needed breaks from the shelter.

“There’s so much more to the dog than what you see in a kennel … so it’s just so heartwarming to see that they get to be a dog and show who they are and how great they are,” said the nonprofit’s spokesperson Nina Thompson.

I wanted to try out the program myself to learn firsthand how easy it was to take a pup out on a field trip, and how other potential owners I met would respond to my temporary pet.

So this month, I spent a day with Plum, a 7-year-old American pit bull terrier mix who’s been at the shelter since September, and immediately fell in love.

Volunteering made simple

To get started, I hopped on the shelter’s website. Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with pickups at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and pets must be returned by 4 p.m. New appointments open two weeks in advance, but people are encouraged to check back regularly for new availabilities and cancellations.

Once I’d found a time that worked, I was asked to fill out a nine-question booking form with my personal information and answer a few questions that would help staff choose the right companion for my outing.

The dogs participating in the program have been pre-selected by staff. But you can let the experts at the shelter know what type of dog you prefer — including size and energy level — along with what activities you’re interested in and what your experience level with dogs is.

When I arrived at the shelter on the day of my booking, I was given guidelines and drop-off instructions, signed the program agreement and then was handed a backpack with all the supplies I’d need — everything from poop bags and treats to a water bowl and pre-filled water bottle, plus a manual, emergency contacts and a map of local dog-friendly destinations.

I also got a few cards with the dog’s name, animal ID and a QR code to the shelter’s adoptable pets website that I could give out to prospective adopters during our outing — and I was asked to take lots of photos.

That’s when they brought out Plum, outfitted with a leash, harness, bandana and bright blue vest that says “ADOPT ME.”

Plum had been on a handful of outings already, and it was evident she knew she was in for a treat. She came in smiling and eager, and after a few moments getting acquainted, a coordinator followed us out to my car to get Plum safely buckled in with a seatbelt they’d provided.

Getting to know Plum

I could tell Plum was immediately comfortable, as she hung her head out the window, tongue out, while we set off to Balboa Park. Wagging her tail, she led our way through the park, drawing attention and curious smiles from other visitors who noticed her vest.

One park volunteer who declined to give her name locked eyes with us from afar and inched toward us, clearly hoping to say hello. Plum happily obliged, wiggling as the woman petted her. I gave the woman one of her cards, hoping she’d consider adopting Plum or another animal.

Plum did extremely well, and although clearly a social butterfly, she was easily distracted as I kept our distance passing other dogs. She also was unfazed by the pigeons and ducks. And when we took a water break in the shade of a tree, she showed me some of her signature moves — an adorable belly-crawl and back roll through the grass.

Back in the car, clearly tuckered out, she lay quietly in the back seat. But on the way back to the shelter, to reward her good behavior, I stopped at a coffee shop to get her a “pup cup” of whipped cream.

It was in the parking lot that a couple in their late 60s spotted her vest and approached us.

Point Loma residents Tom and Janice Fincher said their dog Milo, who recently died, had looked just like Plum. They weren’t ready for a new dog just yet — but they were excited to learn about the Dog Day Out program.

“We’ve got a lot of time on our hands now that we’re both retired, so this sounds like the perfect way we can help get these cuties out and about,” Janice Fincher said, scratching Plum’s head.

Plum’s drop-off was even simpler than her pickup — I said goodbye, then handed her and the backpack over to staff. Later that day, I got an email thanking me and reminding me to send photos from our adventure and fill out a report card to share insights into Plum’s personality outside of the shelter — the better to get her into a loving home.

Modeled after success

The Dog Day Out program is a win-win for various reasons, said Thompson.

“We have been so incredibly over capacity (with dogs) for more than two years now, so we were looking for a new, innovative way to market our animals but also relieve their stress, because it’s so incredibly stressful for them to sit in a kennel, day in, day out,” Thompson said. “The more dogs we have, the more stretched thin our animal care teams are, … so the less individual attention they get.”

The program also helps dogs like Plum release some energy and meet potential adopters. Participants are also encouraged to post photos on social media, which can get even more eyes on them.

The program can also help participants better see a dog’s true colors; the animals are often more themselves when out of the shelter. “They’re a completely different dog,” Thompson said.

As of last week, the organization had facilitated 221 outings in the eight months since the program’s launch, modeled after similar programs offered by humane societies in Hawaii and Los Angeles. The San Diego County Department of Animal Services has also recently begun its own Dog Day Out program at its shelters.

Thompson said at least one dog in the San Diego Humane Society program has been adopted as a direct result of an outing — Layla, a nearly 2-year-old shepherd, whose adopters spotted her at a coffee shop on her adventure, then came into the shelter.

Participants in the program are asked to keep the dog within the county and on a leash during their outing, and not to let the dog interact with any other dogs. Children can join, but an adult must be in control of the dog at all times. If it is raining or over 85 degrees, outings for outdoor activities must be rescheduled.

Anyone interested in participating can visit sdhumane.org/dogdayout.

Originally Published: December 29, 2024 at 5:00 AM PST