Patent ID: 11006616

Abstract:
An enrichment system and method for animals in captivity is disclosed. Generally speaking, the system includes an automated dispenser and a plurality of tokens to be placed about an animal enclosure. The dispenser includes a suitable housing, a reservoir for containing animal-suitable rewards, a token receptacle, a reward output connected to the reservoir, and a mechanism for releasing animal-suitable rewards from the reservoir into the reward output when tokens are deposited into the receptacle. The mechanism for releasing animal suitable rewards is activated by the deposit of a token in the token receptacle. The unique method includes placing tokens about an enclosure for an animal, positioning an animal reward system at least proximate the enclosure, allowing an animal in captivity to find tokens, teaching the animal to deposit tokens within the token receptacle to thereby automatically activate the mechanism for releasing animal-suitable rewards, and allowing the animal to collect dispensed rewards from the reward output.