Williamson County Animal Center Hosts Free Classes to Prevent Dog Surrenders
Collaborative project keeps people and pets together, out of shelters
Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC) invites anyone struggling to house train a dog and/or teach their pooch proper manners to a free class designed to help people and pets stay together in a happier, cleaner and more peaceful home. Registration is not required, but only humans should attend, no dogs allowed. Trainer and Project Reward Director, Ashley Reum leads the classes and believes you can teach dogs of any age new tricks.
“Successfully managing behavior around family and guests can be the difference between someone keeping their dog or surrendering it to their local rescue or shelter,” said Reum. “House breaking isn’t just for puppies and it’s never too late to house train a dog of any age as long as they are medically capable.” Reum says whether someone needs help with a puppy or an older dog, her session is perfect for building a solid foundation.
These classes are possible thanks to funds from PEDIGREE Foundation in support of a collective effort between middle Tennessee animal welfare organizations to provide training classes and other resources for at-risk dogs. Dogs from Cheatham, Davidson, Maury and Williamson counties have already benefitted from group classes, one-on-one sessions, phone consultations and training tools available at no cost to owners because of the grant.
“Programs like this are exactly why we invest in collaborative grants,” said Deb Fair, Executive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation. “By bringing together shelters, rescues, and training resources, we can address challenges proactively. It’s inspiring to see Williamson County Animal Center and its partner organizations unite to make a tangible difference – keeping dogs with their families, reducing shelter intake and giving pets a real chance to thrive where they belong.”
Elmer has only been at WCAC for a little while and since he came in as a stray, we don’t know too much about him just yet. But, his demeanor and love of belly rubs has quickly made him a favorite with staff and volunteers. Elmer appears to be less than a year old, which helps explain why he needs to learn basic commands and how to walk on a leash. He’s not shown any food aggression since he’s been at the animal center but is a little selective about his four-legged friends. Visit WCAC to meet Elmer and all of our pets waiting for their forever family!
There are two chances to learn from Reum’s class: Wednesday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 21 at 3:00 p.m. in WCAC’s Community Education Center. Topics covered include “teaching your dog where and when to go”, crate training tips, common accidents and setbacks, “how to prevent unwanted behaviors”, teaching boundaries and obedience skills as well as time for questions from the audience.
WCAC (www.adoptwcac.org) is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; and closed Sunday. Located at 1006 Grigsby Hayes Court in Franklin, hours may vary due to holidays. Phone: (615) 790-5590
Maury County Animal Shelter (www.friendsofmcas.com) is open to the public Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday until 5:00 p.m. Located at 1233 Mapleash Avenue in Columbia, hours may vary due to holidays. Phone: (931) 375-1406
Cheatham County Animal Control (www.ccactn.org) is open to the public 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Hours may vary due to holidays. The shelter is located at 2797 Sam’s Creek Road in Pegram. Phone: (615) 792-3647
Project Reward is a community outreach program of Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue (SGDR), a foster-based rescue in Thompson’s Station. Anyone interested in adopting from SGDR should visit their website (www.snootygiggles.com) to submit an application.
About PEDIGREE Foundation
We believe every dog deserves a loving, forever home. PEDIGREE Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to help end pet homelessness. Nearly 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues every year, and nearly half never find a home. The foundation was established in 2008 by Mars Petcare, maker of PEDIGREE® food for dogs, to help increase dog adoption rates. We’ve awarded more than 6,300 grants and over $14 million to U.S. shelters and rescues that help dogs in need. Since launching our Canadian grant program in 2022, we have provided $345k CAD to local shelters and rescues in need across Canada, as well as $20k CAD in Disaster Relief. At PEDIGREE Foundation, we’re working toward a day when all dogs are safe, secure, cared for, fed well and loved. See how you can help at PedigreeFoundation.org.
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