City to hold first “Canine Restoration Challenge”

On Aug. 1, the city of Austin will hold its first Canine Restoration Challenge, which takes untrained dogs and makes them better candidates for adoption. According to a press release about the program, “(t)he Challenge will feature 14 dog trainers chosen to train 14 shelter dogs in a humane and compassionate manner in just 14 days. Those selected will foster and train a dog from July 17-Aug. 1, then show off their dog’s skills for prizes at the Austin Pet Expo at the Palmer Events Center on Aug. 1. … Nine Central Texas shelters are supplying dogs. The animal shelters will choose dogs that are 9 months or older and have been passed over for adoption because of physical characteristics, challenging behaviors and/or lack of previous training.” The deadline for trainers to apply to the program is June 25. More information can be found here.