Shelter dogs from OC Animal Care, who are usually stuck in kennels for most of the day, can now get a break from that stressful environment — residents can take these dogs out on short adventures as part of a new six-month pilot program called Dog’s Day Out.

The program aims to connect community members with adoptable dogs to increase the pets’ chances of finding a home and giving them enrichment outside the shelter. 

Denise Woodside, spokesperson for OC Animal Care, said this program is another way to provide refuge and care for animals and foster the human-animal bond.

“We’re really inspired by looking at ways of supporting our mission and providing care and enrichment for the animals that are in our care and also strengthening the animal-human bond and helping pets find loving homes,” Woodside said during a phone interview.

Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to this work, contact admin@voiceofoc.org.

Sage Marvin (left) and Anne Sanchez (right), two OC Animal Care staff members, bring Jacob to an area to allow him to decompress on April 10, 2026. Credit: LAUREN CONTRERAS, Voice of OC

Veronika V, a Dog’s Day Out volunteer, meets Mila, a 5-year-old dutch shepherd mix, on April 10, 2026. Credit: LAUREN CONTRERAS, Voice of OC

When the dogs socialize outside of the shelter, staff can learn about their behaviors in different settings, according to the shelter’s website. This information can also help find the dogs homes faster.  

The shelter’s website also cites studies by VCA Charities that have shown dogs are five to 14 times more likely to be adopted in programs similar to Dog’s Day Out. 

Appointments are available Thursday through Sunday with three pick-up times from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Participants must return the dogs by noon.

To participate, volunteers must at least be 18 years old and they must have a valid driver’s license and an air-conditioned car. They must also complete an application, agree to be posted on the organization’s social media and fill out a post-experience survey.

Participants must also stay within Orange County and cannot take dogs to dog parks. 

Family members may join, but only people who are at least 18 years old can handle the dogs. The dogs must remain in their harness, collar and leash throughout the outing, and they must be seat belted when in moving vehicles. 

The county shelter provides participants with a backpack with essential supplies inside and “Adopt Me” vests for the dogs.

Before the program was open to community members, OC Animal Care volunteers tested the program with in-house staff only. On the third day of testing, a dog named Joanie caught the attention of members of the community when she was out on her excursion. 

Two hours later, Joanie was adopted. 

“It’s great to show people that the dogs are here and remind them of the dogs [up for] adoption — because you don’t really think about it too much when you are just hanging out,” Elizabeth Elmore, a volunteer for OC Animal Care for over two years, said in a phone interview.

Elizabeth Elmore, a volunteer with OC Animal Care for over two years, pets Stewie, a 16-month old pitbull mix, on April 10, 2026 at the shelter in Tustin. Elmore took Stewie to the Irvine Spectrum to walk around and meet a friend for coffee. Credit: LAUREN CONTRERAS, Voice of OC

The Dog’s Day Out program helps dogs get off the shelter grounds at a time when that opportunity doesn’t often arise.

In 2023, the shelter made an emergency policy change that ended offsite dog walking after the Tustin Hanger Fire, which was located very close to the shelter. Animal advocates have criticized the policy over concerns about the enrichment and well-being through limiting the dog’s opportunities to leave the shelter. 

[Read: OC Animal Care Volunteers Still Can’t Walk Dogs Offsite After Tustin Hanger Fire]

Woodside said OC Animal Care volunteers enrich the dogs on campus, but the volunteers can walk the dogs offsite through the pilot program. 

“If [OC Animal Care volunteers] participate in Dog’s Day Out, they’re also welcome to go off campus,” Woodside said. 

Kit Vulpe, a professional dog trainer who has participated in Dog’s Day Out twice, said that the program gives the community more access to shelter dogs after COVID-19 restrictions. 

“We want to see the dogs. We want to take them out,” Vulpe said during a phone interview. “We want to socialize them and train them, even in the small way that’s just taking them outside of that environment — it’s saving their mental health.”

Shelter leadership also cited the Dog’s Day Out program in their recent strategic plan update as an example of enrichment.

[Read: Is OC Animal Care Following Its Own Strategic Plan?]

Mila, a 5-year-old dutch shepherd mix, looks up to Veronika V (right), a volunteer, while staff member Jenifer Rhee (left), helps load Mila into the car on April 10, 2026 at OC Animal Care in Tustin. Credit: LAUREN CONTRERAS, Voice of OC

Woodside said new appointments for the pilot program open two weeks in advance, but openings tend not to last long. 

“The program has been so well received that our calendar to book appointments have been booking up quickly,” Woodside said. 

Vulpe said that she enjoys spending her time helping shelter dogs meet their needs, but there just aren’t enough appointments available. 

“The people want more days,” Vulpe said. 

Elmore thinks the program works great but wishes for more appointment availability throughout the day.

“I wish I could do it in the afternoons because I like to sleep in, but I’ll do it in the mornings, too,” Elmore said.

Participants are given the following supplies: a backpack, an “Adopt Me” dog vest, flyers with information about the dog, a dog seatbelt, an emergency information card, a no-pull harness, a leash, a water bottle, a bowl, a towel, poop bags, dog treats and a ball. Credit: LAUREN CONTRERAS, Voice of OC

Woodside said feedback from participants through surveys will help the shelter to learn and to plan the next steps. 

“For now, we’re just really on an information and learning phase of the pilot program,” Woodside said. 

Feedback on how the dogs behave during their outings also helps the staff match the dogs to applicants more effectively, according to Woodside. 

The shelter selects each dog for program eligibility, who vary in ages, sizes and breeds, according to their website. Then, the staff matches the dogs to applicants based on the information from the application and the personalities of the dogs. 

Woodside said participating dogs tend to be larger, but activity and comfort levels of the dogs are considered when matching them to participants.  

“This [program] really allows for our community to help bring unique enrichment to each animal and go with the lead of the animal,” Woodside said.

OC Animal Care Shelter in Tustin on April 10, 2026. Credit: LAUREN CONTRERAS, Voice of OC

To sign up to volunteer in the Dog’s Day Out program, click here. 

To view all OC animal pets available for adoption, click here.

Related