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| Domino - This Week's Pet of the Week |
“Each individual dog needs a specific family that’s going to meet it’s specific needs,” says Thomas Bakke, an Outreach Adoption Counselor for the Humane Society of Utah. “And I think it’s my job to find the right match.”
Thomas is a match maker for the Humane Society of Utah. Which means he’s part of an elite corp of adoption counselors who go out each weekend on special assignment.
“We have 8 vehicles, 8 trucks and 12 employees,” says OutReach Director Kris Smith.
“We schedule 8 stores or events each weekend. I’ve got people calling me to schedule events with different Petcos and Petsmarts. It’s a big deal...”
And a big operation. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, Outreach Counselors load about 10 dogs and 10 cats into each of the trucks and van in the Humane Society fleet. Like a convoy, they roll out acros the valley, heading for Petcos, Petsmarts and Harmons Grocery Stores, whey they will unload their precious cargo and try to find each one a precious new home.
“Alot of people come in and wonder if they’re bored,” says Kaitlin Lisle, an Outreach Adoption Counselor at a Salt Lake City Petsmart store. “But I tell them the animals can catch up on their sleep out here because the shelter’s noisy...they get their own space, blankets, toys, treats...we spoil ‘em...we walk ‘em all around. So they really like it.”
And the people shopping in the stores do too...especially after a little education.
According to “Squirrel,” one of 12 Outreach Counselors, “alot of people think our animals are broken, but then they see them here and realize they’re wonderful animals that are just down on their luck.”
Luckily, most see their fortunes improve once they enter the Outreach Program.
“Alot of people prefer to just come here where there’s a smaller selection and it’s less over-whelming,” says Squirrel. Kris Smith adds, “most of the people who come into the stores make a better decision because they get to spend more one on one time with the animals, and my staff can give them more time and one on one attention.”
This “recipe” for rescues creates a more relaxed atmosphere to showcase cats and dogs, helping capture the hearts of unsuspecting shoppers, many of whom had no intention of adopting when they walked into the store.
“I remember a woman came in once to get a goldfish for her turtle and walked out the next day with a dog,” says Thomas Bakke.
“People tell me that all the time, we just came in to get a fish!” according to Squirrel.
“They had no plans of coming over here, then they come over and see this adorable little dog and 3 hours later they walk out with a new dog.”
And when that happens, it’s a golden moment for these canine crusaders who consider their work a labor of love. “Even when I do just one adoption, that’s worth it to me...coming out for the whole day,” says Kaitlin Lisle. “It’s worth it when you see an animal you’ve been working with 3 months walks out the door,” says Thomas Bakke. “There’s no better feeling.”
According to Squirrel, “Some weekends you’re just on a roll. You’ll adopt out 3 pit bulls! And the dog nobody thought would get adopted, gets adopted first.”
The real reward comes even further down the road when these outreach counselors really get their pay off. “We get to see alot of the dogs and cats we adopted out,” says Squirrel. “They come back every weekend, go shopping, come say hi to us. It’s really fun.”
On average, Outreach handles 35 to 40 adoptions each weekend...giving many animals a chance they might have never received. “My staff prefers the big older dogs and cats that would not have found a home in the shelter cause everyone likes the kittens and the little dogs. But my staff takes a combination out and we adopt out quite a few who get overlooked in the shelter.”
“They get to know you,” says Squirrel, “and they get to trust you. You see them transform into this wonderful animal, and you find them a home. And then you think...if no one had bothered...what would the outcome have been?”
Fortunately the Outreach Staff is writing so many happy endings the day may soon arrive when no one has to wonder what the outcome might be. As Kris Smilth says,
“I really don’t see it going backwards. More trucks, staff, locations! The sky’s the limit...we can do it!”
To find out about upcoming Outreach locations, go to
UtahHumane.org or the
Humane Society of Utah's official Facebook page.
