The Ontario Center’s mall mascot program puts shelter dogs in the spotlight

ONTARIO — Many shoppers visit The Ontario Center for apparel, shoes or beauty products. Yet some leave with something far more meaningful: a new best friend who walks on all fours, has a wagging tail and barks.

Beginning this spring and continuing through the fall, The Ontario Center will partner with Dog Warden Missy Houghton to launch a weekday Mall Mascot program.

The initiative gives adoptable dogs daily public exposure and a genuine opportunity to find a Forever Home.

Mall mascot program highlights dog adoption

“This is truly my pet project — no pun intended,” said Crystal Tolliver, operations manager at The Ontario Center. “I love being part of something that helps dogs and brings joy to our community.”

Through the program, Houghton selects one adoptable dog to visit the mall each weekday. Tolliver transports the dog to the mall in the morning and returns it to the shelter at the end of each day.

“We get the dog of choice every Monday through Friday until that dog is adopted,” Tolliver said. “Once that dog is adopted, another one is chosen and we start again.”

When a dog finds a home, Tolliver gathers the adoption application and delivers it to Houghton for approval. After approval, Tolliver transports the dog back to the shelter, where the family is waiting to take their new pet home.

Tolliver said the mall also photographs each adopted dog and adds the photo to its Hall of Heroes display, located next to Ashcroft and Oak.

(Hall of Heroes located next to Ashcroft and Oak. Provided by Crystal Tolliver)

Community partners support adoption efforts

Houghton said participating in community programs like the Mall Mascot initiative provides meaningful benefits for the dogs.

“Giving people the chance to see the dogs outside of the shelter is always very nice,” Houghton said.

She explained the dogs often show completely different personalities once they leave the shelter environment, giving the community a better opportunity to connect with them.

“Many people find shelters sad or depressing,” Houghton said. “This gives them a chance to connect with the dogs without those emotions, and it helps people see their true personalities.”

Kim Zimmerman, experience lead at PetSmart, said adoption is a central focus for the company, noting the store hosts its own adoptions through the Humane Society.

“PetSmart is very focused on adoptions,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman added the cause is personal, as she has rescue dogs of her own.

“We try to provide what we can for the families who will be adopting,” she said. “We want this to be an easy transition for them.”

Adopters receive goodie bags for the dog including gifts and an information packet outlining PetSmart’s training programs. Zimmerman said adopters also receive a coupon they can take to PetSmart to receive a free coupon book to help them get started.

“One of the shelter groups, My Dog Shelter Friends, has sponsored a few of the long-term dogs for a training class with us as well,” Zimmerman said.

Looking back on last year’s Adoption Fair fashion show, Zimmerman said she has many fond memories from the event, including moments when some of the dogs slipped loose.

“It was funny to watch,” she said. “I also loved seeing the fashion show highlight both the dogs and the volunteers who walked them.”

Service workers join in for the adoption fashion show

The Ontario Center hosted its first Adoption Fair last year. Tolliver described the event as a pet adoption fashion show featuring local responders walking adoptable dogs.

The dogs wore bandanas donated by Richland Uniform, designed to match the uniforms of Avita, Ontario Police Department, Springfield Township, Ohio State Patrol, the U.S. Army and other volunteers.

“Since that was the first year for the show, I am hopeful to see it grow in the future,” Tolliver said. “We adopted about a dozen dogs then.”

The event relied heavily on community involvement. Avita staff volunteered to walk dogs and often provided treats from Pretzelmaker. Security guards also participated by walking dogs during their patrols.

“We could not ask for better people,” Tolliver said.

(Dogs from the last year’s pet adoption fashion show. Provided by Crystal Tolliver)