Staff at Lollypop Farm know him well. John Ball is one of our most dedicated Doggy Day Out volunteers, and so far, he’s taken more than 30 dogs on adventures outside the shelter.
Doggy Day Out is a unique opportunity that allows community members to take a shelter dog out during adoption hours for a few hours of fun. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a quiet trip for a pup cup, or lounging under a shady tree, you’ll be helping a dog de-stress, enjoy the fresh air, and maybe even meet their future family. Just a few hours outside the shelter can make a huge difference.
We recently asked John a few questions about his time as a Doggy Day Out volunteer.
How did you hear about Doggy Day Out?
I heard about Doggy Day Out from the Lollypop website.
Why did you get involved?
I was looking for something to do after I retired that was flexible with time commitment.
How often do you take dogs on Doggy Day Outs?
On average, about three times a week. Usually Monday, Thursday, and Saturday or Sunday. Since Aug 1st, I’ve done 52 Doggy Day Outs with 32 different dogs and walked a total of 172.5 miles. I usually walk them 3-4 miles along the canal and streets in Fairport, the old trolley trail near Lollypop, and Egypt Park.
What do you like about Doggy Day Out?
I love meeting new dogs and figuring out what commands they already know. Sometimes dogs found as a stray will be given a new name. While walking the dog I’ll call out names from a list of the 100 most popular dogs, hoping for a response. Still no luck doing that, but one of these days I’ll get one! I love seeing dogs happy, ears perked up, wagging their tails. When a dog falls asleep in my car on the way back to Lollypop Farm, I know they had a great day out. I enjoy talking to strangers I meet while out walking. We usually start talking after they say something like “That’s a nice-looking dog.” I’ll say, “They are available for adoption from Lollypop.” I’ll then explain the Doggy Day Out program to them.
What do you want people to know about Lollypop Farm and the Doggy Day Out program?
It is a “win-win-win” for all involved
– The dogs win: they love to get out of the stress of the shelter for a few hours
– People looking to adopt a dog win: they get a dog that is socialized to more people
– You win: you get to enjoy discovering a new dog and get some exercise too
The staff at Lollypop is very friendly and helpful. If you are trying it for the first time, it just takes filling out a short form, and in minutes, you will be on your way.
Several dogs got adopted after pictures were posted of you taking them on a Doggy Day Out. How does that make you feel?
I love it!!! I send pictures after each of my Doggy Day Outs to the staff. I try my best to take interesting pictures of happy dogs outside and enjoying life. I want someone to see the picture and say, “That dog’s for me!” I also post the pics to my Facebook account with the tag #LPFDoggyOut.
Do you have any adventures or dogs that stand out to you?
I have walked Jax 10 times now. I don’t understand why he hasn’t been adopted yet. He’s very friendly and loves to walk. I have walked as far as seven miles with him at once, and he shows no signs of slowing down. The right person or family just hasn’t met him yet.
Xander was another favorite. I paid for his adoption after my second walk with him.
Milo was also a favorite, a 90lb gentle giant that loved belly rubs like no other dog I’ve met.
Anything we missed?
Have you heard the Doggy Day Out song I created using ChatGPT for help with the
lyrics and Suno for the song?
We can’t thank John and all of our Doggy Day Out volunteers enough for being such incredible advocates for dogs waiting for their new homes.
To learn more about Doggy Day Out, visit our Doggy Day Out page or come into our Fairport location and sign up today!
