One of my best friends is heading up this effort--she will be highlighted on the cover of the NY Post sometime this week!

Amy Calmann, founder of the 1,000+ member NYC Pit Bull Group Meetup Group (meetup.com/NYC-Pitbull) and I together are holding a drive to collect Kongs, a popular dog toy for NYC shelter dogs. Our goal is to provide a Kong for every dog at Animal Care & Control of NYC ("AC&C”). We estimate the amount of Kongs required to be several hundred, if not thousands.

AC&C is in full support of our drive, as well as Vicktory dog Handsome Dan (who held a similar drive in Providence, Rhode Island in December 2010. The Handsome Dan donation collection provided a stuffed Kong for every dog at every shelter in Providence. Handsome Dan’s generous owners have provided guidance and advice to us.)

Hundreds of dogs are euthanized at AC&C every single month. These dogs languish in small cages for days and sometimes weeks, with little to no activity or fun to break up their monotonous days. Volunteers walk the dogs, and to try to give them a bit of attention. But with so many dogs, even a large amount of volunteers cannot reach out to every dog, every day, for more than a few minutes at a time.

That is where Kongs come in to save the day! Dogs are occupied for large chunks of time, trying to retrieve the treats from within the Kong. These simple toys are the key to helping alleviate the horrendous anxiety these dogs suffer while locked in cages listening to the cries and barking of hundreds of other dogs around them. Kongs lower a dog’s stress level and reduce their nervous energy, providing a greater chance of adoption. Studies have shown the presence of toys in a cage increases adoption rates.

Unfortunately due to budget cuts and the increasing dog population at A&C, toys are rarely provided. Dogs at AC&C sit trapped in cages, whimpering, and they often resort to destructive behaviors like gnawing at their skin until they bleed or exhibiting hyper energy when released from their cage. While we wish every dog at AC&C would be quickly adopted, until that time comes, we want every single dog in a shelter in NYC to have a Kong.

We suggest all Kongs be mailed by March 31st, 2011.

Please mail Kongs to:
Miriam Bouchma
c/o FTI
3 Times Square, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10036

Thanks in advance!

BTW, Kongs are about $5-$6 each on Amazon!

ETA: Here is the link to the facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-dreams-come-true-donate-a-Kong-to-ACC/163508117034108