Dakin Accepted to Jackson Galaxy's Cat Pawsitive Program
Photo courtesy of the Jackson Galaxy Project
When “Cat Daddy” Jackson Galaxy (star of TV’s “My Cat From Hell” and founder of the Jackson Galaxy Foundation) gives you the chance to enroll in his 2018 Cat Pawsitive program, you know you’re on the road to helping more animals!
Dakin Humane Society will have that honor, starting in early 2018. We just got word that we are among 16 shelters nationwide that were selected to undertake this training. The Cat Pawsitive program will offer guidelines to increase the well-being and adoptability of cats in shelters, particularly shy/fearful cats. We’ll learn more ways to engage cats and keep them more physically active. The program also offers methods to show how cats can be taught using positive reinforcement training methods.
A team that includes Dakin staff and volunteers will participate in weekly training with a group of behavior experts, and receive exclusive tools, handouts, and videos prepared by the Jackson Galaxy Foundation. There will be private social media outlets made available to our team so they can share stories, brainstorm, and problem-solve. They will conduct a number of training sessions with shelter cats at Dakin several times each week.
According to Dakin’s Executive Director Carmine DiCenso, “We’re thrilled about this opportunity. Most people aren’t aware that we have two times as many cats as dogs here at Dakin, and a cat-specific program is very exciting for us. Shelters can be a stressful environment for cats, and we’re always looking for ways to enhance and enrich their lives while they’re here and boost their adoptability. I’ve been through this program at a previous shelter and I can vouch for how impactful it is.”