On Dec. 20, 2025, the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center at 4340 Tamarack Blvd, Columbus, OH ran its Holiday Sleepover program, sending several dogs out of the kennels for overnight stays with community volunteers and potential adopters. Organizers described the multi-day pickups on Dec 20, 21, and 22 as a way to give animals a break from the shelter environment while allowing staff to observe how each dog behaved in a home setting.

Participants arrived at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center facility in the afternoon to sign out dogs for the holiday weekend. The shelter’s adoption counselor, Mauritsa Borgia, oversaw the sign-out process while volunteers and staff matched dogs with families and walked through logistics. On-site volunteers assisted with paperwork and ensured each dog left with the basic supplies and guidance needed for the sleepover.

Several dogs left the shelter that day. Gaia was prepared to go home with Sarah Storer, and dogs named Sweetie, Jinx and Katrina were also taken for the Holiday Sleepover. Other animals remained at the center. Residents who picked up dogs included Andrea See and Tracy Rawlings, among others who participated in the one-day placements.

The exchange combined short-term fostering with exposure to potential adopters. Staff at the shelter provided families with basic supplies, instructions and behavioral notes so that the overnight experience could yield useful information. Shelter workers said the interactions allow them to see how an individual dog settles into a home — how they sleep, eat and interact with people and other animals — information that can complement assessments made inside the shelter.

The Holiday Sleepover was scheduled amid a broader national backdrop in which shelters track seasonal adoption trends. Shelters and rescues reported that the fourth quarter, including December, often brings higher adoption activity: data show adoption rates for dogs reach around 55% in December compared with total intakes, a rise credited to holiday-themed promotions, reduced fees and community campaigns.

Organizers said the sleepover model offers a low-commitment way for families to get to know an animal before deciding on a longer-term adoption. At the same time, animal welfare groups continue to contend with seasonal challenges. During the holidays, shelters frequently face reduced foster availability because volunteers travel or have increased commitments, and some centers see higher rates of pet surrenders as owners cope with financial or lifestyle changes.

Those pressures make short-term programs such as the Holiday Sleepover appealing: they provide temporary placements that give dogs time outside of kennels without requiring long-term foster arrangements. On Dec. 20, staff and volunteers at the Franklin County Dog Shelter coordinated logistics at their Columbus facility to keep transitions smooth between kennels and participating homes.

The event drew local media attention; MyFox28 Columbus covered the sleepover program and posted the pickup schedule for community members interested in participating. Shelter officials emphasized that the program is part of ongoing efforts to connect residents with animals in need and to gather additional behavioral information that could improve matching dogs with appropriate adopters.

By combining community engagement with operational observation, the Holiday Sleepover aimed to benefit both animals and the people considering them. Whether the overnight placements lead to formal adoptions depends on follow-up evaluations and decisions by the participating families, but the shelter said the short-term placements offer a practical step toward more permanent outcomes while giving dogs a holiday weekend out of the shelter.

Source: original reporting and coverage by MyFox28 Columbus.

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Original reporting: view the original article.