PEGRAM, Tenn. (WTVF) — Dogs at Cheatham County Animal Control are getting a new leash on life after the shelter overhauled several hiking trails.
"It's just been uplifting on so many levels," said director Kristin Reid.
When Reid joined CCAC two years ago, she discovered that most of the dogs were not being walked daily.
"There was just not the ability for staff to take them out like we wanted to and we didn't have volunteers," she said.
A year ago, Reid put out a call for volunteers to walk the dogs.
"They need activity to keep them physically, but also mentally stimulated as well. Boredom can cause a lot of behavior problems that wouldn't necessarily happen if they had something to do," she said.
Recently, CCAC added colorful stories about the dogs and painted rocks to the hiking trails and soon it will be adding metal sculptures.
"It has increased our adoptions. The pictures our volunteers take, the behavior our dogs are improving on...it is a game change for the adopt-ability of our dogs. It really has made a huge difference in them finding their forever homes," she said.
Now interested members of the community are walking dogs three to four times a day.
"The smiles on the dogs faces [is] amazing, but even more than that the smiles on my staff's faces... because they [see] a need that they weren't able to provide finally being filled for these dogs," she said.
CCAC is located in Pegram at 2797 Sams Creek Road. Perspective volunteers can drop by the shelter or contact them on Facebook.
