Adopt A Pet Month

Happy October y'all! I’m been super busy with school and this week is the final week of my competition prep!

We all know that October is the month to save the ta-tas, but it’s also Adopt-A-Pet Month. So allow me a bit of a PSA.

This is a cause very dear to my heart as two of my lovelies are rescues:

Martini-Dog

Morgan

While shelter dogs get the spotlight, there are other types of shelter animals as well including cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, etc.

If you are thinking of getting a pet, please check out your local shelters, rescues and even Craigslist as it often has pets for adoption or highlights animals on “death row.” (If you are meeting a private owner, have someone go with you to meet the pet if you choose this route).

Not into pavement specials? While there are local pedigree rescues, due to the economic downturn local shelters may also have owner-surrendered purebred breeds. (Actually, 25 to 30 percent of dogs in shelters are purebred!)

Obviously adopting a pet is a big commitment, and the worst thing would be to adopt a pet and have to bring it back to the shelter because it was too much to handle. Sometimes being a responsible pet owner means not owning a pet. So make sure you have the time and resources if you are thinking of this option.

But there are other ways to help:

Donate to your local shelter. Not only do they need money, but food donations, toys, towels, etc. Call and find out specifics needs. Also volunteer time: to socialize, to exercise, to walk and to clean out the temporary homes of the animals.

Donate to an animal. You may not have the ability to adopt a pet. There are plenty of shelter animals that have special needs or are in need of surgery or other expensive medical treatments to help make them adoptable. This cost money. Sometimes local shelters or petfinder.com will have specific animals that you can donate to their medical needs.

Foster. Local shelters and rescues need foster parents; both “families” that have pets (socialize) and those that have no other pets (special needs). This is a lot of work, but temporary and can be flexible (if you are taking a vacation, sometimes the organization will make arrangements for the animal rather than you having to worry about it).

You can also foster military pets when their pet-parents are deployed (anywhere from three to 13 months). Organizations like Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet offer this option. Don’t you want to be a apart of this:

Support. Support local pet adoption events. Many times shelters and rescues have walks, runs, festivals, etc. You don’t have to have a pet to participate. Call a friend who does or brave it yourself. Earlier this year the hubs and I spent a Saturday morning at a one-mile dog walk and festival. It was fun being around so many pet lovers and just a good change up to the usual Saturday morning routine. And I think the dogs had fun.

The big event

new friend

The hubs with the pups

Water break

If you have a pet, there are a great number programs to help promote pet ownership such as therapy dog programs (in hospitals and/or schools) and volunteering your time and your rescued pet at adoption events.

Pets bring a lot of benefits such as lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, lower chance of depression (or help with treatment) as well as increase physical activity and socialization.

... And don't forget to microchip and spayed and neuter your animals :)