Make a Shelter Dog's Day - Join Us for a Dogs' Day Out
Make a shelter dog's day! Learn more about our Dogs' Day Out Program at the York County SPCA.
How Often Are Dogs' Day Outs Held?
Our Dog’s Day Out events are held once a month. On each date, pick-up is at 9:00 a.m. at the Brougher Companion Animal Shelter – York County SPCA, 3159 N. Susquehanna Trail, York, PA 17406.
Once you arrive, our staff will review basic safety and handling, which is required to participate in the program. We will be available to answer your questions before you leave with your dog.
Before you leave, all participants will take a short lap around our facility, walking their assigned dog with a YCSPCA volunteer to ensure they are comfortable handling them.
Dogs MUST be returned to the shelter by 4:00 p.m. After the event, we ask that all participants complete a "Dogs' Day Out" report card. This information helps us learn more about dogs outside the stressful shelter environment.
Remaining 2024 Dates:
- Sunday, December 15
How Do I Sign Up to Take a Dog Out for the Day?
During the week of each Dogs’ Day Out, we will post the sign-up application on our website and social media. All you have to do is complete the application and a member of our canine team will reach out to you over the next few days to let you know if you are approved and let you know which dog you will be taking out.
If there is a particular dog you'd like to spend the day with, please indicate that on your application. The dogs available to take out will be featured on our Facebook page. If the dog is already matched, we will work with you to find another who is available. Dogs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are subject to change (i.e., a dog gets sick, behavior changes, etc.).
How It Benefits Our Shelter Dogs:
This program has many benefits for our team and these deserving pups. Taking them out for the day provides critical ‘canine enrichment’ for our pups. Happy Dog Training defines ‘canine enrichment’ as “modifying a dog’s environment to improve its quality of life.” The three main goals of canine enrichment are:
- Increase behavioral diversity.
- Encourage positive utilization of the environment.
- Increase the ability of the animal to cope with challenges in a normal way.
The shelter and kennel environments are very stressful and not a permanent place for an animal. As a shelter, we should be a temporary haven for animals until they are adopted into a forever family. When dogs remain in this environment for an extended period, they can begin to mentally and physically deteriorate.
Hosting Dogs’ Day Out events provides endless benefits for the dogs (and people too)! Their minds and bodies are stimulated by traveling to new places and utilizing all their senses. They learn to engage in a positive way with the environment and people around them with correct guidance and attention. They receive affection and love, and if a dog is shy, they build positive associations with people and even other animals. Even the benefits of going out just for the morning or afternoon have a major impact on the mental health of our pups.
According to authors Drs. Lisa Gunter and Erica Feuerbacher’s research through Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, dogs that went on temporary foster sleepovers in a home had decreased cortisol levels. When the dogs returned to the shelter, their stress increased back to their baseline, but not higher than before. Think of it almost like looking forward to getting off work for the weekend – even though work may be stressful, having a break allows us to reduce stress until we have to return again. This mimics the stress regulation methods for our dogs.
It also helps us learn key information about each of the dogs individually, such as how they do around new people, if they have a prey drive for wildlife/small animals, and how they do in the car. This allows us to make better love connections with potential adopters and lessens the likelihood they will return to the shelter.
Where Can I Take My Shelter Dog During the Day Out?
Great question! We have compiled a list of dog-friendly places you can visit in York County during your Dogs’ Day Out!
Click here for a downloadable PDF version of dog-friendly places in York County.
RESTAURANTS
- Perrydell Farm & Dairy
- Revival Social Club
- Stony Run Brew House
- Mudhook Brewing Company
- Archetype Pizza
- Iron Horse York
- Noodles & Company
- Holy Hound Taproom
- Handel’s Ice Cream
- Panera Bread
- Firehouse Subs
- Maple Donuts
- Sweet Willows Creamery
- Jim Mack’s Ice Cream
*These locations may require you to sit outside if you have a dog.*
STORES
- Lowes
- Home Depot
- Tractor Supply
- Ace Hardware
- Petco
- PetSmart
PARKS
- Cousler Park
- John C. Rudy Park
- Rocky Ridge Park
- Heritage Rail Trail County Park
- Mill Creek Park
- Gifford Pinchot State Park
- William H. Kain Park (Lake Redman)
Here are some places that allow dogs in most locations, but we encourage you to call ahead and check if you plan on visiting:
- TJ Maxx/Homegoods/Marshalls
- The Gap/Old Navy
- Ross
- Michael’s
- Hobby Lobby
- JOANN Fabrics
Pro Tip: Dairy Queen, Dunkin, and Starbucks are great places for pup cups!
What If I Fall in Love With the Dog I Take Out?
This is the best possible scenario! Here at the York County SPCA, we are all about making the right love connection to an adopter and pet. Many dogs have been adopted after a Dogs' Day Out. If you fall in love with your shelter dog, you can apply to adopt them by filling out a dog adoption application. If you are not in a position to adopt at the moment, you can always apply to foster them until they find a forever home by completing a canine foster application. The York County SPCA assumes all financial responsibility for animals enrolled in our foster program making it affordable for all people.
