Humane Society wins a dog-hiking grant

The Humane Society of Southern Illinois in Murphysboro was recently awarded a $500 Petfinder "Dog Field Trips/Short-Term Fostering" grant.

The grant will enable the Humane Society to support its "Shelter Dogs in the Shawnee" hiking program, which takes shelter dogs for field trips in the Shawnee National Forest and surrounding areas. The funds will be used to purchase "Adopt Me" harnesses and leashes for the dogs to wear on hikes and other outings.

"Taking the dogs out for a few hours is a great way to keep them healthy and happy; they love the change of scenery, exercise and attention," said hiking coordinator Katie Phillips. "Our hikes also help us learn more about the dogs (Argo likes to swim! Morrow's great in the car!) so the shelter can help them find their best homes."

To get involved in this program, visit the Humane Society website at humanesocietysil.org. For more information about dogs who have been hiking, visit facebook.com/groups/ShelterDogsInTheShawnee.

The Humane Society of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing services for the humane and ethical treatment of animals for over 63 years. They are a small, open-access facility that accepts any animal brought to them by the public and also acts as the holding facility for all of Jackson County Animal Controls. They care for over 2,000 animals/year, placing them in local homes and coordinating with rescue organizations.