When traveling it’s always nice to find a place to stay where you can feel more at home. Although most people travel for new experiences, accommodations that do extra things to make you comfortable are always golden finds. In Mississippi a hotel has found a truly unique way to welcome guests, offering cuddle time with homeless dogs in need of love. (1)

Dogs Adopted at Home 2 Suites

The Home 2 Suites in Biloxi not only offers cuddles, but also a pal for your room during your stay. The hotel chooses dogs from a local shelter and has them living comfortably in the lobby. Guests can watch the dogs in their large kennel and choose a pup to share their room. If it is true love, the dogs can be adopted permanently.  (1)

Fostering Hope For Adopted Dogs

The program, called “Fostering Hope” was started in October 2018. The hotel targets extended stay guests, making it easier to find potential pet companions. With more time away from home, guests who feel a little lonely can choose a dog from their adoptable kennel housed with dogs from the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport. (1)

33 Dogs Adopted

Since the program began, the hotel has helped find forever homes for 33 of their canine guests. Some of the new parents are military. “They have a lot of transient guests who stay for months at a time near our army and navy bases and that’s just enough time to fall in love with a dog,” says Bianca Janik, the shelter’s relations manager. (1)

Ideal Option For Adopted Dogs

Teresa Johnston is the one who came up with the idea. As the hotel’s sales director she wanted to find a way to set themselves apart. When she approached Bianca at the shelter, she took some time to look into the hotel and decided it was an “ideal” option as a unique long-term foster program. (1)

“Teresa thought they needed to set their hotel apart and this was it. She wanted to have the business more involved with the community,” says Bianca. “It was a very out-of-the-box way to find our animals new homes, so we were on board.”  (1)

Dogs Adopted For $50

The fee for adopted dogs is $50 and an adoption application must be completed. “We have a very open adoption program,” says Bianca. “People are trying to do the right thing by adopting. We reserve the right to deny. (We) may tell them we don’t feel comfortable, come visit our shelter tomorrow and we’ll find one that is right.” (1)

The $50 fee helps cover the cost for the dogs being neutered or spayed, microchipped, updated on their vaccinations, and provids preventative heartworm medication. It’s a pretty good deal considering how expensive veterinary services can be! (1)

80% Of Dogs Adopted Annually

Once approved, the dog joins their new companion in their room, making way for another hopeful dog to join the gang in the lobby kennel. The program helps the Humane Society’s shelter manage more intake, where they see as many as 8,000 dogs each year. Luckily, their adoption rate is equally high with homes found for about 80%. (1)

The program takes on dogs suitable to live in the lobby so dogs considered “reactive” wouldn’t make good candidates. “Because there are live animals in the mix, we have to be able to trust that their health and well-being are taken care of first and foremost,” says Bianca. (1)