Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/spca-florida-doggie-dates/

A great partner is loyal, a good listener, and will love you unconditionally. While these traits may be hard to find in another person, dogs check all the boxes.

Anyone looking for a perfect date in Lakeside, Florida, is in luck because the SPCA Florida just relaunched Doggie Dates.

The program allows people to take a pre-selected shelter dog on a date that can last anywhere from one to four hours.

The shelter provides everything you will need to have a great time including a list of suggested places to visit and things to do, a harness and martingale collar, a bowl for water, and information about your date.

The dogs are up for a walk in the park, window shopping downtown, or watching a movie.

Available dogs range in age and size and all are looking for the same thing – a loving forever home.

The dates are beneficial to both people and the shelter dogs. “This fun opportunity is perfect for those wanting to see what it’s like to have a dog, those who can’t have a pet of their own, or just want someone to hang out with,” states the shelter.

It also allows the dogs to spend a day away from the shelter and potentially meet their person.

The process is simple. Select a dog you would like to take out, or have one selected for you by a staff member, and fill out a form. The shelter will then contact you within 24 hours.

People can choose to go on a morning or afternoon adventure. While there is no fee for the date, the shelter asks people to consider donating $1 or more to their Guardian Angel Fund that helps animals in need of medical care.

Participants are asked to take photos and share them with the shelter so they can use them to help the dog find a home.

Safety is the shelter’s #1 concern, so each person is vetted before taking out a dog and prior to each date staff goes over safety, restrictions, and other necessary information.

Titus, an 8-year-old bulldog, described as “a fun loving, sweet guy with a big ol’ head and an even bigger heart,” is just one of dozens of dogs waiting to go on a date. Meet all of the available dogs here.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog