Will we ever fully understand the life of dogs? Probably not. We can get closer, however! One woman decided she wanted to really decide what it was like to live as a shelter dog for the day, and she did just that!
Stacie Haynes isn’t some random woman who wanted to “be like a dog;” she is the Shelter Director at the Susquehanna SPCA in New York!
If anyone should want to get a better look at how dogs live, Stacie seems to make the most sense. If she could understand the day-to-day of the dogs she looked after, she could potentially improve their wellbeing!
With a plan in place, Stacie launched into her experiment.
The test was going to be more than just Stacie living in the shelter, it was also going to involve a dog from the shelter replacing her in her everyday life! The two would be trading places for a day, essentially.
The lucky dog, a 5-year-old pit bull named Max, was about to have the best day of his life.
For the entire day, the two swapped lives. Max lounged around in the office and had a good time hanging out with the other shelter workers. Stacie, however, was in a literal kennel for 7 hours!
During the workday, Max even got to wear a tie (to keep things professional).
As Stacie spent the day laying o a small dog bed, she got a big dose of what it was like for dogs like Max.
“The morning was very loud. I could see where if you’re a dog that’s scared or you’re a dog that is not really sure what’s going on – the sounds of the dishes clinging, the bowls hitting the concrete, could be really scary. As the day went on, things got a little bit quiet but that was also sort of a jarring experience,” said Haynes.
As the hours ticked by, Stacie started counting the individual chain links on the kennels, the tiles on the floor, and really anything that could keep her occupied. After a few hours, it made sense why all the dogs seemed so depressed when they stayed at the shelter for too long!
Now, with her ordeal finished, Stacie wants nothing more than for Max to have a forever home of his own.
Max had a day of freedom, but Stacie wanted him to live that kind of life every day! His sweet demeanor made him such a lovable dog.
“He’s a very good boy. He’s very friendly, he comes up to the kennel wagging his tail,” said Haynes. “He just wants to be your friend.”
The story concluded with some final words for anyone who wants to adopt their sweet boy Max.
With Max’s temperament and history, he would flourish in a home that didn’t have cats or young children. He would be fine with another dog, they would just want to make sure they got along before introducing him cold into a new home. The shelter will even provide a behavior specialist for anyone who adopts him!
Check out this link if you are interested in taking a look at Max or any of his friends!
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