The residents of an animal shelter in West Virginia are well and truly feeling the festive spirit after being treated to a night out to see the Christmas lights.
A day out can make a huge difference to the life of a shelter dog. Sometimes, it can even be the difference between them finding a new home and not. A 2023 research study published in the journal Animals found dogs that are taken on brief outings are five times more likely to be adopted than euthanized.
So, when Angie Gillenwater, the Community Engagement Manager at the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, was contacted by someone from local minor league baseball team the Charleston Dirty Birds about attending a pet-friendly night, she jumped at the chance.
Each year throughout November and December, Christmas lights cover the baseball field, turning it into a Winter wonderland that’s enjoyed by human and four-legged visitors alike. Having attended with some of the dogs last year, Gillenwater had a good idea of what to expect from the festivities this time around. What she could not have known, however, was quite how the dogs would react.
“Many of our dogs had different reactions,” Gillenwater told Newsweek. “Our senior dogs that attended, like Zeus and Mama Odie, tired out pretty easily, but noticeably loved the lights. All dogs in attendance were very loose, wiggly, and visibly excited to be away from the shelter and out of their kennels.”
TikTok/adoptcharleston
The event offered the shelter dogs the chance to play with other canines and enjoy some much-appreciated attention from the other visitors there that night.
A little attention can go a long way with a shelter dog. One 2018 study from the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science even went as far as to suggest just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting is enough to boost the overall well-being of a shelter dog.
One thing is for sure: these dogs enjoyed interacting with others outside of the shelter. “All the dogs were friendly upon meeting other dogs owned by the public, as well as meeting members of the public!” Gillenwater said. “We had some that were VERY excited; for example, Felix, who was barking out of excitement the entire night and very high energy!”
Sadly, it couldn’t last longer with the dogs eventually making their way back to the shelter. Gillenwater doesn’t know what the holiday season holds for these outgoing pups, but she is hoping a little Christmas magic is sprinkled their way before December 25 arrives.
“Hopefully our dogs will be adopted and spend Christmas in a home; that is, of course, the ideal scenario,” Gillenwater said. “If not, we try to make Christmas just as special.”
Throughout November and December, the shelter pushes for donations of blankets, toys, and treats. Staff hang stockings on each kennel filled with these donations. On Christmas morning, staff arrive to help clean and provide care for the animals.
Once basic needs have been met, the staff members open stockings for each individual pet in our care so they can celebrate Christmas while they wait for a home.
With less than a month to go until Christmas, there is still plenty of time for a few of the four-legged residents to enjoy a festival miracle of their own.
