Animal Adoption Month

Perry, Henry and Clarence, three great reasons to rescue.

October, among many other amazing causes, is Adopt a Shelter Animal Month.

This is something that is near to my heart, as I have always had rescue dogs, including the two I have right now.

According the the Humane Society website, over six million dogs and cats are brought into shelters each year; four million of those animals are put to sleep due to overcrowding at shelters. 

With all of the cruel conditions and unjust practices and standards of puppy mills made public in recent years, it is my hope that people looking for a pet will start to search shelters first. The Lexington Humane Society recently partnered with PetSmart Charities, Inc. to create a new satellite adoption center at the PetSmart store in Hamburg Pavillion where shelter animals will have a home until they are adopted, allowing the shelter to take in more rescue animals.

The first time Henry, my latest rescue pup, caught his own reflection in a mirror. He carried all of his new toys, the first he ever had, around with him for days.

I have had three rescue dogs in my life, and their behavior and character have inspired friends and family members to start adopting dogs rather than purchasing from a pet store.

A shelter dog often has less health complications than dogs that are bred, as many of their blood lines have been closely mixed. You can also find rather unusual mixes at shelters, as many are mixed breeds, giving you a unique story to tell those who ask about your dog at parks or strolls through the neighborhood. Shelter animals are also less expensive than purchasing a pet from a pet store or breeder and come spayed or neutered and have their first round of shots.

Shelter pups also know what life was like before they were welcomed into a loving home, and carry a certain appreciation towards their new life-long friend. 

If you are interested in adopting a dog or cat, you can visit your local animal shelter or view pets online at Petfinder.com. The site allows you to characterize what kind of pet you are looking for and how far you would be willing to travel. 

For those of you who can not adopt a pet due to time or financial constraints, Sherman Jett, director of the Jessamine County Animal Shelter in Nicholasville, said that volunteering is a way everyday citizens can help the rescue animal population.

“Volunteering would be a big thing. Shelters are under a lot of pressure to perform the best thing that can for animals, but under a tight budget. We don’t have a blank check, so volunteers are very helpful to us. We have volunteers that come to our shelter that just walk our dogs. That’s very valuable to us because the dogs are in their cages and it gets them socialized with people and they get to get out and walk. It helps them, and it helps us when we adopt the animal,” said Jett.

Many shelter websites also have links for products that their shelter is in need of that are offered at a reduced rate that people can purchase as a donation towards a shelter. I know that extra dog food and old towels are also appreciated and needed by shelters.

Any little contribution one can make towards bettering the life of a homeless animal is a positive step towards reducing the number of shelter animals in the U.S. Often times the pet gives back more than double any investment you make in them through love.