July 14, 2008

The "Real-Life" room in a Tampa, Fla., shelter is giving dogs a chance to see what "real life" is like with a family. (Pet Pulse Photo by Victoria Lim)

TAMPA, Fla. -- After a career on the race track, Jim the greyhound is on the fast track to learning something new: how to live in a home. It might sound odd, but keep in mind: this three-and-a-half year old may know how to run circles around other dogs, but doesn’t know how to navigate around furniture.

He may know what the sound of a starter pistol means, but not the hum and churn of a dishwasher.

He’s used to hearing the cheers of a crowd, but not music blaring from a radio.

So that’s why he and all dogs at the Humane Society of Pinellas spend time in the Real Life room. A self enclosed, contained room that does what its name implies: gives dogs a sense of what “real life” with a family is like.

It contains furniture, exercise equipment, a table and chairs, appliances, and sometimes volunteers who move about completing tasks like filling meal containers for shelter animals.

“It’s a space dedicated for animals who haven’t had experience in a home environment before,” explained shelter manager Abagail Appleton. “It’s also an area where dogs that are out in the kennels can take a break from the monotony of the kennels.”

While the Florida organization doesn’t keep track of how many times a dog enjoys the Real Life room or how many dogs have experienced the room, Appleton said she believes it makes a difference in easing a dog’s transition into a home.

During our visit, 6-year-old Shiba Inu Monkey frantically sniffed every corner, and repeatedly circled the room, dove under the table and chairs, and adjusted his step getting used to the tile floor. Whether it was the excitement of being out of his kennel or being in a new environment we aren’t sure -- but he left evidence of his unfamiliarity by a wicker chair, a puddle.

“It’s easy to see the first time an animal does come into the real life room they’re a little nervous. They have to sniff around and check out everything because there’s been 900 other dogs in that room. But, you know, once they’re in there a few times, they start to relax, feel more confident, and we really feel it eases their transition into a home,” Appleton said.

In addition to getting the dogs acclimated to the items a home may contain, the Humane Society of Pinellas also work on house training the dogs. Commands such as “here,” “sit” and “down” are practiced and incorporated into the time they spend in the real life room.

Appleton hopes Jim will get to show a family how well he can make the transition to a home soon. He’s been at the Humane Society of Pinellas since December 2007 and is still looking for a home. Monkey is already showing off his home skills -- a family adopted him at the beginning of June.

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