Do you remember how much fun it was to receive a new toy when you were young? It isn’t any different for our furry friends! Providing enrichment for our beloved pets is an important way we can make a positive difference in their lives.

According to the Candace Croney Research Group at Purdue University, “The purpose of enrichment is to reduce stress in dogs and to reinforce socialization practices. Providing a dog with enrichment allows the animal to have a sense of control over their environment, which can help to reduce and avoid stress.” This is also true for our feline friends. Our pets need social interaction (with humans, canine and feline friends), nutritional enrichment to encourage natural foraging/feeding behaviors, “occupational” enrichment to give our pets a “job” that encourages physical and mental stimulation like playing sports or engaging in training, sensory enrichment to stimulate their senses (soothing music, new smells and sights, etc.), and physical enrichment like playing with toys or offering different physical features to their living spaces (beds, tunnels, etc.). The researchers at Purdue University describe in more detail the importance of enrichment (their research primarily focuses on dogs, but these findings relate to cats as well).

The researchers at Purdue also remind us “that enrichment is only valuable if it matters to the [animal]. An item or activity is not enriching if dogs [cats] do not use it, are afraid to use it, or are bored with it. Each [animal] will have individual preferences as well, so it is important to change up the enrichments from time to time and tailor them to the individual [pet’s] preferences.”

All of this holds true for our pets at home and for our pets at PAWS Atlanta. We work hard each day at the shelter to give our animals daily enrichment. Our off-leash area, Delko’s Den, and Nikki’s Nook, for example, are outdoor areas that not only provide a peaceful place for prospective pet parents to spend quality time with our animals but are also a special area for our animals waiting to be adopted to enjoy time to run free, play with other dogs, and check out our agility equipment and numerous toys. Our feline friends in our cat cottage enjoy cat condos, tunnel play centers, cat activity puzzles, and laser cat toys. We always keep frozen peanut butter KONGS in our veterinary clinic to give our dogs enrichment in those long, dull hours as they are recovering.

Earlier this summer, we received a very special grant from the Petfinder Foundation to help us purchase dog enrichment items like snuffle mats, flirt poles, puzzles, Benebones, licking mats, as well as colorful plastic balls to replenish our kiddie pool in Delko’s Den. Needless to say, our pups were thrilled, and it didn’t take long for these dog enrichment items to be put to good use and they have been having a blast.

Providing enrichment for our pets as they patiently wait for loving families is an important way we can provide love for our animals and give them the special care they need and deserve to thrive.