My name is Jessica Coutee. I’m a 6-year U.S. Army veteran and a senior at the University of Maryland at College Park. When I’m on campus, I’m learning about the breathtaking ways that animals have intelligence and complex needs through my degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When I’m not face down in a textbook, I’m actively getting hands-on experience as a volunteer at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. As a volunteer, I learned just how intelligent animals really are.

From the swift Border Collie that can memorize over 1,000 words, to the stoic American Pit Bull Terrier, which can learn commands in as few as 15 repetitions, I was humbled by the high emotional and functional intelligence of the beautiful dogs in the shelter. Which led me to a harsh but honest realization: how painful must it be to have all that mental and physical ability with no way to grow, express, or release tension for weeks or months at a time?

Large breed shelter dogs struggle mentally and physically with debilitating anxiety, limited mobility, and insufficient stimulation. This is because large dogs are often overlooked or misunderstood because of breed restrictions and unfair stereotypes. They can spend months in a shelter waiting to be seen and accepted by visitors looking to adopt. Spending that much time in a loud room that’s no bigger than a closet would wear on anyone in that situation.

So…this Christmas, I want to gift them a little joy and a sense of freedom with the shelter’s first Slatmill! The name may sound funny, but Slatmills are respected tools used by Vet clinics, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and police K-9 units. Slatmills are treadmills built just for dogs. They allow dogs to set the pace of the machine with their own power and drive. That means large dogs get a chance to run at full speed and feel a sense of freedom that is rare when living in a kennel.

Help me give these oversized bark babies an exciting and enriching Christmas this year. Please donate what you can and tell anyone else who might enjoy investing in this year’s holiday cheer. Let's get these dogs moving!

All of the dogs shown in the profile photos are current dogs at the shelter that could use the help of a slatmill or the love of a forever home.

All donations will go directly to providing shelter dog enrichment and slatmill purchase and delivery.

The cover image is sourced from:

AMERLIFE Dog Treadmill for Dogs with Pace Adjustbable Brake and Roller Wheels. (2025). Mission Valley. https://www.mission-valley.com/buy/product/amerlife-dog-treadmill-for-dogs-with-pace-adjustbable-brake-and-roller-wheels-target-5f3345?model=0&variant=0

Benefits Info page:

Home - Muscle Up, Pup! (2025, October 15). Muscle Up, Pup! https://muscleuppup.com/