A new program lets you 'test drive' Milwaukee shelter dogs for five days before adoption

The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission is currently home to nearly 100 dogs, more than the agency has ever had.

"There's a nationwide shelter crisis; shelters are filled to the brim," said Kate Hartlund, MADACC community engagement coordinator. "There's an adopter shortage right now, and the economy has a lot to do with it. Everything is expensive right now, and owning a pet has kind of become a luxury."

MADACC has seven kennel rooms for all of these dogs, and, Hartlund said staff has noticed more anxiety, whining and stress among the animals due to overcrowding. The situation is also challenging for shelter staff and volunteers. Currently, one kennel tech is responsible for the daily care of 81 dogs, Hartlund said. Since shelters across the state and country are also overwhelmed, she said MADACC has no partners to transfer animals to.

MADACC offers multiple programs aiming to get dogs out of the shelter. Milwaukee County residents can take an adoptable dog home for a weekend sleepover with MADACC's Weekenders Club program, and Hartlund said the agency has lowered some of its adoption fees to encourage adoptions.

Additionally, this month, the shelter introduced its Sign and Foster Test Drive program. This program allows residents to foster one of MADACC's adoptable dogs for five days to see if they're a good fit for their family. If a foster parent decides their foster is their forever dog, they'll receive 50% off the adoption fee for participating in the program. If the dog isn't the right fit, program participants can foster again until they find the right dog for them.

How MADACC's five-day test drive program works

The Sign and Foster Test Drive program soft-launched on May 1. Originally, only dogs over 40 pounds could be test-drive fosters. As of May 15, any adoptable dog can participate in the program. This includes dogs of any breed or age that are off their legal five-day stray hold and are not undergoing medical treatments that preclude them from adoption at this time.

In addition to giving dogs valuable time to socialize and decompress outside the shelter, MADACC hopes the test drive program will lead to fewer dogs being brought back after adoption.

"By giving people these five days to feel it out first, we're hoping they'll be able to make a more educated and correct decision for their family," Hartlund said.

"You still won't know the dog's full personality after five days, but you're going to have a better understanding of it. Getting married on the first date is usually a little scary, and that's kind of what you're doing when you adopt a dog. You're making a lifetime commitment in a very short amount of time."

Not all dogs eligible for the test drive program have been spayed or neutered, but each is given a surgery date before their adoption is finalized.

All test-drive dogs are also available for immediate adoption; you just won't receive the 50% adoption fee discount without fostering for five days first. Full-price adoptions range from about $75 to $400, Hartlund said.

Additionally, MADACC says there's no judgment if you don't want to adopt; you can bring the dog back before the five days are up if it's clear it's not the right fit. Even taking a dog out of the shelter for a few days can make a big difference. Hartlund said that studies show dogs get poor sleep and experience higher stress in shelters.

"To get them out of the shelter for a night or five days or the weekend really helps their behavior and health," she said. "Extended stress and anxiety can cause lifelong health issues, both behavioral and medical."

Short-term fostering also helps MADACC and the dog's future family learn more about their personality because dogs often act differently outside the shelter than inside. When a dog is brought back to MADACC following a short-term foster, foster parents fill out a "personality profile" to help document the animal's traits.

Who can participate in MADACC's five-day test drive program?

Because MADACC is a governmental organization, only Milwaukee County residents can participate in the test drive program. Additionally, dogs can't travel outside the county during the five-day foster period. Foster parents must be 18 or older and provide a valid I.D.

Learn more about MADACC's Sign and Foster Test Drive program here: madacc.org/2024-sign-and-foster-test-drives.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New MADACC dog foster program designed to help overcrowded shelters