One Morris County animal shelter is encouraging people to bond with their shelter dogs by taking them out on a field trip.

The St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center program is a great way for dogs to relieve their stress and get out of their kennels for a day. It's also a great way for the shelter to learn about dogs temperaments.

“After a field trip we ask people to fill out feedback forms," Sarah Sangree, director of community engagement explained. "We ask them all kind of questions. How did the dog do in the car? When kids approach, when runners jog by.”

The field trips began in 2019. Tamara Bigelow is a regular, taking dogs every three weeks or so. She is unable to have dogs where she currently lives, so she uses this experience to get her dog time.

“I can’t give them a home right now," she said. "So, I’m giving what I can, and it helps me too because if I know I have a rough day coming up, it’s an anniversary of something I’d rather not think about too much, I sign up for a dog field trip.”

More information about the program can be found on the St. Hubert’s website.