The Yakima Humane Society recently opened a new training yard where dogs can romp off-leash. Society spokeswoman Annie Flores said the facility has been dreaming for a long time of having the space where they can take the dogs out of their kennels, and work with them one-on-one.
The new yard has two enclosed spaces, but presently, only one dog is let into one of the spaces at a time. Eventually, Flores says, she hopes to see groups in the yard, because it’s beneficial to dogs to play with each other.
The new yard cost $10,000, with funding coming from private donors as well as the Kiwanis Club. The new space will help the facility in its mission to find forever homes for the cats and dogs that come to the society. Flores said many people want to see how well a prospective dog obeys simply commands like “sit” and “stay.”
The yard gives employees space to work with the animals, though at present, only volunteers and workers are allowed to use the yard. However, facility employees hope that prospective “pet parents” will soon be able to use the space to interact with dogs, to see if they will fit into the person’s home and family life.
Facility managers could work with a newsletter printing company to create a letter, including photos, to explain the amenities and show the pets available for adoption.
