How Puppy Play Dates Began:
   

Allegra & Conny Sporrer (Rütter's D.O.G.S. Wien)

Timmy

In the summer of 2015, ACA president, Carol Byers, took two of her grandchildren with her to the Animal Care Austria supported shelter in Lovasberény, Hungary for adoption day. Because she was busy with the new families and other adoption responsibilities, she asked the kids, then 12 and 9 years old , to sit outside the kennels and read to the shelter dogs.

Each child brought their favorite book, and were eagerly greeted by the dogs on the other side of the fence. After the initial barks of joy and the extreme wagging of tails, the dogs quieted as the children began to read. The shelter dogs were fascinated by the kids, and as they quietly read, the dogs relaxed and listened with great attention.

Later, Carol took the kids on a little tour of the shelter. It didn’t take long for the kids to discover the puppies, AND for the puppies to discover the kids! The next our hour was spent in euphoria. I don’t know who was happier – the kids or the puppies.

At the end of the day, my 12 year old told me that it was the best day of his life. And so, Puppy Play Dates began.