Watch shelter dogs at play at Animal Center

A new play group program for shelter dogs begins this week at the Austin Animal Center. The play groups provide an opportunity for dogs to play together in an off-leash environment while also allowing potential adoptees to see how the dogs interact. The center hopes the play group program – which has been implemented in more than 100 other municipal shelters, according to an announcement from the Animal Center – will help increase the number of pet adoptions in Austin. Aimee Sadler, founder and director of Dogs Playing for Life, is conducting training sessions to teach Animal Center staff and volunteers how to lead the play groups. The public is invited to drop in and observe the sessions, which take place every day through Aug. 30, 8 a.m. to noon, at the dog play yards near the center at 7201 Levander Loop. During this time, adoption fees for play group dogs will be waived. To further sweeten the deal, the center will be hosting a pizza party on Saturday, Aug. 29, with Stony’s Pizza and Jim-Jim’s Water Ice, from 9 a.m. to noon.