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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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Something remarkable happened when a group of long-serving Florida shelter dogs enjoyed a day out together.
Taking a dog out of the everyday hustle and bustle of the shelter environment, even for just a short amount of time, has been shown to bring about a profound change. A 2018 study published in the scientific journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting outside of the shelter environment was enough to boost the mental well-being of a rescue dog.
Staff at the Humane Society of Broward County are well aware of the positive effects a little time away from the shelter can have on its residents. Once a month, they take five to seven dogs to a private dog park located behind the shelter. The trip provides each and every pooch with a chance to relieve some stress, let out a little energy and enjoy some general enrichment and stimulation.
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"We try to focus on the dogs that have been here the longest and experiment with dog meets - to see how their demeanor is playing with other dogs," Kaitlin Pechin, from the Humane Society of Broward County, told Newsweek. "Being away from the shelter gives the animals a nice reset and helps us understand their individual personalities and how they interact with other animals."
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Their most recent trip saw Elektra, Kaizer, Charles, Bella, Sammy and Rambo head out to play.
"We let the dogs run free in the private park, which is paid for through sponsorship donations," Pechin said. "A few of the dogs are brave enough to go swimming, but most of the time they spend their field trip running, playing and sniffing everything!"
A video chronicling a few of the highlights from their day out was posted to TikTok by the shelter and showed the dogs enjoying rolling around on the grass, playing with soft toys and interacting with the other canines.
It proved popular among those following the shelter on social media, with some tearing up at the sight of the dogs enjoying a little freedom.
"They are all so beautiful," one user wrote. "Aw they look so happy," a second added, with a third writing: "I pray they all get good homes."
As well as providing the dogs involved with a little respite, these trips give shelter staff a clearer idea of what each and every dog's true personality is. As Pechin explained: "Any reset outside of the shelter is helpful for these precious animals and getting to know them outside of the shelter helps us help them find their perfect families."
Ultimately, she said they wanted to share the video to show the world "all the wonderful dogs we have for adoption and what they are like when they get to leave the shelter. Especially some of our longer residents."
The good news is that it appears to have done the trick: Elektra, Charles and Sammy have all been adopted since the video was posted.
Here's hoping for the same for Kaizer, Bella and Rambo.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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