GLOUCESTER— Thanks to a new partnership with TREAT, dogs at the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society are feeling the love from all around the world.
The TREAT mobile app is a free game that allows users to support real shelter dogs while they play. Players select a dog from a participating animal shelter and interact with a virtual version of that dog through gameplay. As users earn points and complete activities, the app’s sponsors send real supplies — such as food, treats and toys — to the shelter caring for the dog.
Caitlin Donnelly, the society’s communications manager, spoke about the impact that the game is having on the dogs at the shelter.
“Since being added to the TREAT app, we have seen a significant increase in donations of dog food and treats coming into the shelter. It has also introduced Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society to players from across the country who may not have known about our work before. Many of these supporters have gone above and beyond by sending additional donations outside of the app to help our animals. That kind of awareness and generosity helps ensure we can continue providing quality care, nutrition, and enrichment for the pets who rely on us while they wait for loving homes,” Donnelly said.
The app also notifies players if the dog they are supporting is adopted, allowing them to follow the animal’s progress while helping provide resources to shelters.
Donnelly added that support from the TREAT user community has been amazing.
“Partnerships like this make a very direct difference in the daily lives of the animals we care for. For example, the additional dog food and treats we have received through the TREAT app help ensure every dog in our shelter has consistent, nutritious meals each day. Treats are also incredibly valuable for training and enrichment, as they help our staff and volunteers build trust with shy or nervous dogs, reinforce positive behaviors, and make interactions with potential adopters more successful. Something as simple as having plenty of treats on hand can help a fearful dog gain confidence, learn basic manners, and ultimately become more adoptable, bringing them one step closer to finding a loving home. We are incredibly thankful for the support of our community and the many people who find creative ways to help shelter pets,” she added.
TREAT is available for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.