This October, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is encouraging animal lovers to celebrate Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month by adopting a furry friend from their local shelter. According to ASPCA estimates, each year approximately eight to 12 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide, more than half of which are euthanized due to a lack of space or resources. By recognizing October as Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, the ASPCA hopes to raise awareness of the plight of shelter animals across the country and urge potential pet parents to choose from the millions of adoptable companion animals.
"Celebrating October as Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month is a great way to highlight the unlimited potential shelter dogs have to be unequaled pets," said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. "Further, studies show that being a pet parent offers serious health benefits, including lowered heart rates and blood pressure."
Here are just a few of the reasons to make pet adoption your first option:
* Most animal shelters offer adoption programs and are staffed with trained counselors who are experienced in matching families/individuals with suitable animal companions. Potential adopters explain their lifestyle preferences and expectations for a pet, and the shelter staff introduces them to pets who match their needs, increasing the chance of a successful adoption;
* Most animal shelters screen incoming pets for major health and behavior issues;
* Many shelters offer free services such as training materials, vaccinations, medical check ups, spay/neuter surgery and even microchips;
* Dogs can often be found in a wide range of ages so adopters don't have to go home with one who is too young to be housetrained, or who is still in the mouthing, teething, or destructive stages, making the shelter dogs more desirable as companions; and
* Many shelters house both pure and mixed breeds. The ASPCA approaches the task of increasing pet adoptions in a number of ways.
In 2006, the ASPCA unveiled its bright, cheerful and state-of-the-art Pet Adoption Center in Manhattan, which covers 12,000 square feet. It includes two full floors that house shelter animals-a 40 percent increase over its previous capacity, leading to double the colony housing for cats, and four times the space for dogs-and its bright, cheerful environment aims to positively impact successful adoptions. Further, ASPCA® Meet Your MatchT Canine-alityT and Puppy-alityT adoption programs, which are used in shelters all around the country, include research-based animal behavior assessments that are all aimed at increasing adoption rates and reducing returns. Finally, increasing shelter adoptions is one of the core goals of ASPCA® Mission: Orange, a campaign launched in January 2007, and which aims to create a country of humane communities, one community at a time, by curbing the needless euthanasia of adoptable pets.
"Our goal, when we renovated the Center," said Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA Adoption Center & Mobile Clinic Outreach Program, "was not just to accommodate more animals, but also to provide them with premium quality space in a relaxed environment that helps adopters see each pets' unique personality shining through. That way, adopters know exactly what type of pet they are taking home."
As part of Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, the ASPCA is sponsoring a series of fun online activities, including its second annual photo contest, in which pet owners are invited to submit photos of their pooches. The contest opens on October 1, but pet parents should remember to submit their photos before November 1, when the contest closes. Winners will be announced at the end of November. Please visit www.aspca.org for more details.
Dog lovers can also log on to www.aspca.org to learn helpful hints for caring for pooches, such as:
* Nametags Aren't for Ninnies. A dog just can't have enough identification. A tattoo or microchip is great for permanent identification, but remember to keep the registry up to date when you move, change jobs or get a new phone number.
* She's Got a Ticket to Ride. A car ride is a good time for many dogs. To ensure the safety of all occupants, confine the dog to a crate or seatbelt harness.
* Bring Plenty of Toys for Good Girls and Boys. Every dog needs toys to stave off boredom by chewing, tugging, shaking, tossing, carrying, hiding, burying, and napping with them. Rotate toys to keep them interesting.
* It's Scary; It's Spooky; It's All Together Kooky. Halloween can be a disturbing time for pets. If they are not well-socialized, put them in a private room during trick-or-treat hours and keep them away from neighborhood pranksters.
Ready to plan a visit to your local shelter to find the perfect pooch for you? Visit www.aspca.org/findashelter to find a shelter in your area. For more information on how to choose the right dog for your family, please visit www.aspca.org/adoptiontips .
To stay up to date with the latest plans for Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, please visit www.aspca.org
About the ASPCA®Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first humane organization established in the Americas, and today has one million supporters. A 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in animal-assisted therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach. The New York City headquarters houses a full-service, accredited animal hospital, adoption center, and mobile clinic outreach program. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York's animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series "Animal Precinct" on Animal Planet. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org
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