My name is Morgan Flynn, Shelter Director at Color Country Animal Welfare.

I'm creating this GoFundMe to send one of our employees to Nashville, TN to continue her training with Dogs Playing for Life.

Char is a dedicated staff member committed to learning as much as she can to help her give the dogs at CCAW the best enrichment during their time here with us.

A note from Char:

"In the Dogs Playing for Life first course, I learned a lot about how dogs communicate and interact with each other through play. One of the most important things I learned is that dogs rely heavily on body language to express their feelings. By watching their posture, facial expressions, tails, and movement, it is possible to understand whether a dog is comfortable, excited, nervous, or stressed. This helped me realize that play is not just about running or wrestling, but about communication between dogs.

I also learned how to tell the difference between healthy play and unsafe behavior. Healthy play usually includes back-and-forth actions, role switching, and frequent pauses where dogs check in with each other. Even if the play looks rough, it can still be positive as long as both dogs are choosing to participate and are enjoying it. This changed the way I view dog behavior, because I now understand that rough play does not always mean aggression.

Another important lesson was that every dog has a different personality and play style. Some dogs enjoy energetic chasing games, while others prefer gentle or short interactions. The course emphasized that it is important to respect these differences and not force dogs into situations that make them uncomfortable. I also learned that humans should observe dogs carefully before intervening, since stopping play too quickly can sometimes interrupt positive social experiences.

Overall, the Dogs Playing for Life first course helped me better understand dog behavior, socialization, and communication. It showed me how creating a safe, positive environment allows dogs to build confidence, learn boundaries, and have healthier interactions with other dogs. This course helped me feel more confident in recognizing appropriate dog play and understanding how to support dogs in a respectful and responsible way."