As a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, Tori Skillings’s life moves quickly between performances, appearances, and practices. And representing one of the most iconic franchises in professional sports can come with added pressure. But somewhere in the middle of all that, she’s found a way to downshift: taking dogs from her local shelter, Dallas Animal Services, out for a day.<\/p>
The outings are called “Doggie Daycations,”<\/a> and the concept is as simple and generous as it sounds.<\/p> “The idea really came from wanting to give shelter dogs a break from the environment they’re in every day,” Skillings said. Dallas Animal Services does extraordinary work, but a shelter still comes with added stressors<\/a> for dogs between the noises, the smells, and the constant activity. <\/p> During a Daycation, the dog gets to just be a dog for a few hours. <\/p> Skillings keeps the outings simple: walks, fresh air, a bath, and a lot of unhurried time together. Recently, she took a pup named Rainey on a long walk, and gave him a bath and a meal of fresh, real food from The Farmer’s Dog. (Rainey was adopted soon after by a loving family.)<\/p>All about “Doggie Daycations”<\/h4>