Two big animal welfare organizations are encouraging people to adopt, not shop, for their next family dog with a special month-long celebration commemorating all the shelter and rescue dogs out there who are still looking for a home.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the American Humane Association (AHA) have deemed the month of October National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and Adopt a Dog Month, respectively. The names are slightly different, but the goal is the same — National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and Adopt a Dog Month are both about getting as many great dogs as possible into the loving homes they deserve.
It might sound obvious to anyone who has added a shelter dog to their family before, but adopting a pet is quite fulfilling. According to the ASPCA, the results of an Edge Research poll suggest people who adopt a dog from a shelter are far more likely to feel good about their experience than those who purchase a pet from a pet store — something to keep in mind while searching for your next canine companion.
Shelters and rescues in cities across the country are stepping up to promote their pooches and pups during the month of October.
WBIW.com reports that the City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control in downstate Indiana is getting into the Adopt a Dog Month spirit by holding special raffles, promoting spay and neuter programs, and reducing all dog adoption fees to only $40 for the entire month of October. Interested Hoosiers can check out the shelter’s many adoptable dogs on the organization’s Facebook page.
The city of Mission Viejo, California also encourages all residents to consider being a forever family for a homeless dog in need.
“We encourage families looking for their new four-legged family members to do their research and visit their local shelter or rescue group instead of the local pet store,” Mission Viejo Animal Services Manager, Gail DeYoung, said in a statement.
And Nashville, Tennessee’s Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC) hopes Nashvillians won’t overlook adoptable adult dogs this Adopt a Dog Month, so they are offering a $25 adoption fee discount for all dogs one year or older.
And, with a little help from Grammy Award-winner and founder of Nashville animal rescue organization Bonaparte’s Retreat, Emmylou Harris, the MACC is also promoting their dark-furred doggies in the month of October. In addition to the adult dog adoption fee discount, the first 15 people who adopt a big black dog from the MACC shelter will also receive a limited edition CD from Emmylou Harris. This special album includes her song “Big Black Dog,” which Harris wrote for her black Labrador Retriever, Bella, whom she adopted from the MACC.
“We urge animal lovers to help us find forever homes for all of our amazing adoptable dogs and hope this discount will do just that,” MACC Director Judy Ladebauche tells Nashville.gov.
Are you interested in adopting your next best friend this October? Visit DogTime.com today to learn about more than 100,000 adoptable dogs, read expert advice about the pet adoption process, and to find an animal shelter or rescue organization near you.
Sources: Nashville.gov, WBIW.com, ASPCA.org, AmericanHumane.org
