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Den helps dogs adapt for adoption photo by Bob Pennell By Meg Landers Lewis and Luna, 3-year-old brother and sister, know what to do on a good couch: Sprawl. The German shepherd-husky-golden retriever-chow mixes are just two of the 30 dogs who have access to the Southern Oregon Humane Society�s newest addition: The Den. The 12-by-24 den is furnished with a couch, a television, tables, lamps, rugs and dog toys, all donated by staff and volunteers. The private, nonprofit organization has created the room to help dogs make the transition from cages to homes. "We didn�t have a place for volunteers to take dogs to groom and train," says Kathy Pilolla, director of communications and development at the society. Now, she says, the animals have a place to work on house training, obedience training and being around other animals � all of which increase their adoptability. According to Pilolla, even a dog who is brought to them housebroken can forget its training after being caged. Dianne Quarg of Eagle Point volunteers at the society, working with the dogs on obedience and agility. Quarg is excited about the new room. "It�s a place to relieve their stress, it�s nice and quiet, and they can have one-on-one with people," says Quarg. "I think it�s an absolutely wonderful idea." Whether the dogs need an opportunity to work on behavior problems, need their coats brushed, or just want to curl up and watch "101 Dalmatians," The Den has much to offer, says the staff. Sue Musolf of Medford, another volunteer, says there used to be problem with prospective owners visiting the dogs in the kennels. "Whenever you go back there (into the kennels), all the dogs go crazy," says Musolf. From the barking and jumping, she says, people could get the wrong idea about what may be the perfect dog for them. "Now," says Musolf, "they have the ability to see what the animal will be like in their home." Bill Templeman, the society�s executive director, was inspired by another animal shelter. "The San Francisco SPCA (Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals) years ago created a shelter where animals live in rooms like this," says Templeman. He says The Den is part of a vision for a facility where all animals live in comfortable, home-like settings. "Our ultimate goal," says Templeman, "is to have no cages." For more information or to volunteer, contact the Southern Oregon Humane Society at 2910 Table Rock Road, Medford, 779-3215. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.