Two grants will help train shelter dogs

The Austin Animal Center announced Wednesday that two volunteer-run programs that support the center have received grants to fund projects to train dogs, improve their quality of life and ultimately make them more adoptable. A $3,000 grant from the Animal Farm Foundation was awarded to Dogs Out Loud, a nonprofit organization that focuses on canine behavior rehabilitation. The money went toward construction at the Animal Center of a “thinking walk,” completed earlier this month, with activity stations for obedience training and enrichment. A $6,000 grant has been awarded to Friends of Austin Animal Center to create a play group enrichment program allowing interaction among shelter dogs in an off-leash setting. According to an announcement from the Animal Services Office, “More than 100 municipal animal shelters throughout the United States have implemented this life-saving program with successful results.” Staff and volunteer training for the program, which begins Aug. 22, will be provided by Dogs Playing for Life founder and Director Aimee Sadler.