New at RAL: Dog Playgroup Yards

We have an exciting new development here at Richmond Animal League – doggie playgroup yards!

We have a big area and a smaller area connected with large gates to make one huge play yard if we want. The play yards were designed with input from Dogs Playing for Life, a non-profit working to enhance the quality of life of shelter dogs by promoting playgroups.

We are so thrilled to have this new play area, because it gives us the ability to hold playgroups for our shelter dogs and offer opportunities for off leash outdoor enrichment. Shelter life can be very stressful for dogs with all the sounds, smells, strangers, and isolation. The play yards create more opportunities for staff and volunteers to get the dogs out of their kennels so they can spend time just being a dog. While we do of course get the dogs out on leashed walks and have a small play yard behind the shelter, the new larger play yards were designed for playgroups and provide areas for the dogs to run off-leash and explore.

The fences were just completed mid-September and on September 27 we had our first play group training. Lesley Gurule of Canine Communication RVA is giving us her expert guidance so we can make sure that we are conducting our playgroups in the safest and best way for the dogs in our care.

Thank you to all of our supporters, volunteers, and staff who helped make this happen! Want to help us make more improvements at RAL? Please consider donating!