DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With animal shelters and human societies across Central Florida over capacity, some are getting creative in helping their dogs burn energy and make them more adoptable.
At Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach, the shelter just started working with Run-N-Paw: a type of “doggie treadmill.”
These treadmills are supposed to calm the dogs so that they don’t get too high-energy in the chaotic kennels.
CEO Sean Hawkins at the Halifax Humane Society told News 6 that they’ve noticed a spike in large, active dogs being taken in.
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He explained this spike arose because people adopted these dogs during the COVID-19 pandemic — but now, many of these same people are returning to work.
Hawkins also said that about 20% of the adopted dogs from the shelter end up coming back, so the shelter is now working on training these dogs, which is where the doggie treadmills come in.
“This is a structured exercise opportunity,” he said. “It is an opportunity for the dogs to have an energy outlet, and it allows them to be more calm. And then when they’re calm, our trainers can work with them on basic obedience skills.”
The treadmills aren’t motorized, meaning that the dogs can run as fast — or as slow — as they please.
Shelter staff take the dogs on these treadmills each Friday, and Hawkins said he knows it will help get these pups into good homes.
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