The Wildhorse Foundation Lights Up Our Futures

New lighting provides a safer environment for our staff, volunteers and animals.

We are grateful to the Wildhorse Foundation for their generous grant of $20,000, which made possible our recent project, "Lighting Up Our Futures." This initiative has transformed our facilities and benefited our animals, staff, volunteers, and the public.

The Wildhorse Foundation is a remarkable organization that supports a variety of causes, including animal welfare, education, conservation, and community development. Their grant programs empower nonprofit organizations like ours to create positive change in the lives of animals and the communities we serve.

Thanks to the Wildhorse Foundation's support, our outdoor dog yards now shine brightly, eliminating safety hazards and revolutionizing the way we care for our animals.

The benefits of improved lighting:

• Safety and comfort for our dogs: Our dogs will enjoy safer and more comfortable bathroom breaks and exercise sessions, multiple times a day.

• Enhanced human-animal interaction: Observing our dogs' body language and reactions is paramount, particularly for strays with unknown histories. The brightly lit yards ensure the safety of both individuals interacting with them and the dogs themselves.

• A more successful adoption process: Potential adopters can now meet our dogs in well-lit environments, allowing for off-leash interactions and accurate assessments of the human-animal connection. Compatibility checks with resident dogs are conducted safely, significantly enhancing the adoption experience.

With Wildhorse Foundation’s support, we successfully achieved our goals. Our dog parks now have excellent lighting, thanks to the good work of Walla Walla Electric. The project is now complete.

While we haven't yet utilized the outdoor lights for dog walks (due to our 6 p.m. closing time), the project has already begun to enhance our operations in various ways. It provides added security through improved night visibility in our parking lot, aids in monitoring with security cameras, and uncovered irrigation issues, promptly repaired by Walla Walla Electric. Remarkably, the company's work even improved the condition of our yards' grass.

The ripple effect

• More volunteers will be comfortable walking dogs in the afternoons and evenings, boosting our animals' exercise levels.

• The improved health and well-being of our dogs will lead to more successful adoptions.

• Our community now enjoys a safer and brighter environment, creating lasting positive experiences.

Thank you again to the Wildhorse Foundation for your commitment to animal welfare and to creating a brighter future for all. Together, we have illuminated not just our dog yards, but also the lives of countless animals and individuals in our community.