Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption and K-9 Coach Create Unique Partnership to Help Shelter Dogs

Homeless animals available for adoption are now getting a little extra help through training and enrichment thanks to a new partnership created between Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption (APRA) and K- 9 Coach.  APRA is a non-profit, no-kill shelter dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating dogs and cats based in Smyrna.  Right next door on Atlanta Road is nationally renowned training company K-9 Coach, Atlanta’s only complete canine experience providing industry-leading dog training, day care, boarding, grooming and products.

“A partnership only makes sense,” says Amber Burckhalter, owner of K-9 Coach.  “Our entire mission is based on helping dogs and their owners live happy, harmonious lives together.  By working directly with the Atlanta Pet Rescue dogs and their new owners we can help rescue dogs become a well-integrated part of their new family right from the beginning.”

APRA has always been known for their remarkable attention to the care of animals, and can now add behavioral assistance, something that is not a focus for many area animals rescues, but is truly beneficial to help find the perfect match when it comes to a forever home.  K-9 Coach will be offering a free one-on-one behavior evaluation to everyone who adopts a dog from APRA.

“We are extremely grateful for this partnership and what it means for the animals in our care,” said Mica Hill, Executive Director of Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption. “ With K-9 Coach’s expertise working in compliment with our excellent in-take, medical care and our clean and nurturing shelter environment, the ability to evaluate temperament and help animals through training and enrichment and intense rehabilitation, if needed, can only help our dogs find their forever homes faster."

These are just a few of the benefits of the new partnership:

·      Training and behavior evaluations for dogs at in-take and throughout their stay at APRA.

·      Written documentation for an adopter offering guidelines and expectations for taking their new shelter dog home – from the initial arrival at the forever home, to the first week to the first month.

·      For dogs that exhibit behavior issues or when their length of stay reaches a certain point, a behavior program will be initiated and an investment of time will be provided to overcome this hurdle.

·      Provide APRA adopters with their first one-on-one behavior evaluation at no cost to the adopter, designed to encourage proper training and to help make the adoption process easier and more successful.

A long stay in a shelter environment can sometimes cause animals to form bad behaviors due to boredom and lack of exercise. Through this partnership, APRA and K-9 Coach will be able to teach the dogs basic training techniques to make them more appealing to potential adopters and, in turn, get them adopted more quickly.

Hill explains, "We have already seen a dramatic difference in a few case studies with Amber and the K-9 Coach team’s influence. One dog that arrived with a dramatically unruly temperament was turned around in 30 days of rehabilitation and upon return to the shelter was quickly adopted. This partnership exceeds the normal shelter or rescue intentions and will truly help us in our mission of finding forever homes with this added benefit to the animal and an ongoing link for the adopter."  

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About Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption

Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption (APRA) is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating dogs and cats so they can be adopted into safe and loving forever homes.  For more information, visit www.atlantapetrescue.org.   Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization.

About K-9 Coach 

Located in Smyrna, GA, K-9 Coach provides dog training, dog day care, dog boarding, dog grooming, products and related services. They are the ONLY doggie daycare in Atlanta with full-time certified canine specialists monitoring their play groups. Their staff members are the most highly certified & credentialed possible – completing over 20 hours of continuing education every year. K-9 Coach is the only company to be voted Best of Atlanta Dog Training, Best of Atlanta Dog Boarding and Best of Atlanta Doggie Daycare.