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Dog Up For Adoption Walks Out Of The SPCA To Sniff Out Hampden

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Across the country, animal shelters are allowing volunteers to take dogs with them for overnight excursions. As Mike Schuh reports, a similar yet different program is seeing success here.

The daily routine at a kennel includes a full scrub down.

"This is really important to the health of our animals," said Katie Flory, SPCA.

Flory says the cleaning routine is great, but the living on the other side of the glass routine is tough.

"An average length of stay is only about a week, which is really awesome," Flory said.

Chance, who is in the kennel, hasn't been as lucky. Though friendly, nice, and from a good home, he's been here a month. Volunteer Beverly Lynch is about to make his day.

"Kennel living is extremely stressful for our dogs," Flory said.

So, Flory started "Dogs Day Out." And it's Chance's day.

Chance is being walked by Lynch. A recent transplant from England, Lynch volunteers most days. But this isn't just a walk around the building. Chance is headed to The Avenue in Hampden.

"We're bringing Chance out, who would be normally obviously be at the kennel. We're giving him the opportunity to be outside and explore," Lynch said.

It's unclear who's walking who, but that's part of "Dogs Day Out."

"Yeah, he's a strong boy, but he's so excited now and that's what he's getting from it. You know it's something different," Lynch said.

These walks last an afternoon. They keep the dogs healthy.

"I've watched animals come back from this and go into their cage and they're snoring for hours," Flory said.

Happier dogs are the dogs that get adopted.

The dogs who have leashes showing are available.

"You see their tails waggin? They're just so happy to be out," Flory said.

The "Dogs Day Out" program is open to those who volunteer at the SPCA on Falls Road in Hampden.

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