INTHEVUE.COM | FEBRUARY 2026 51 and greet rooms all day, taking them on walks at the dog park or in our back field, taking them to get a pup cup, or taking them to their house and hanging out,” said Nalley. “Most dogs do get ready and excited when seeing other people.” The Humane Society will also have workers in the kennels with participants during the day to explain the daily life as a worker at the humane society, that way the participant will get to feed, walk them, and be a part of their daily life as well. And, if dogs aren’t quite your cup of tea, a participant can let the humane society know, and they can work out a plan for them to stay with a cat instead! No matter what animal you prefer, all volunteers who participate in the slumber pawty all say the same thing - that they love the event, and it is like therapy for them since they are getting to spend so much time with the animals. Nalley has seen many bonds form between animals and humans during this event. “The impact of socialization with dogs during the event is huge. The dogs that participated last year were a little scared and timid at first to meet their kennel mate at first, but the actions of the human participants helped the dogs open up and get out of their shell,” said Nalley. “They blossomed after.” Extended human interaction can play an important role in helping shelter dogs feel more comfortable while they wait for their forever homes. Spending time with people helps reassure the animals that they are safe and not in danger, which can reduce stress and improve their behavior. The shelter encourages members of the community to volunteer and interact with the animals at any time, helping many dogs become more confident. Events like the Shelter Slumber Pawty can be especially helpful for long-term residents or shy dogs, giving the shelter a chance to share their stories while also allowing the animals to build meaningful connections with people, sometimes with people who may ultimately decide to adopt them. The Shelter Slumber Pawty website provides a list of recommended items for participants to bring. For sleeping arrangements, attendees may want to bring sleeping bags, air mattresses, yoga mats, couch cushions, inflatable rafts, pillows, or blankets - keeping in mind that accidents from excited dogs are always possible. Participants are encouraged to bring phones or tablets to capture photos and share their experience on social media, along with chargers, headphones, books, or other reading materials for downtime. Personal toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, and any daily medications should also be packed, with Spending time with them could be sitting in one of our meet and greet rooms all day, taking them on walks at the dog park or in our back field, taking them to get a pup cup, or taking them to their house and hanging out,
