October, or what the ASPCA fondly calls Dogtober, is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. That being so, Happy Mutt encourages all dog lovers to actively promote the adoption of shelter dogs.
However, not every person can adopt a dog at any time. Thankfully, there are other ways to help shelter dogs get another opportunity for a loving home. Furthermore, your assistance is not limited to October. You can make a significant difference in the lives of dogs across the county whenever and wherever you wish to do so.
How to Encourage the Adoption of Shelter Dogs
First, and foremost, Adopt a Dog! Adoption not only gives a dog a loving home, but it also makes room for one more dog to enter the facility. It may very well save another dog’s life!
There are so many hungry, homeless dogs in need of both food and shelter, let alone a permanent family. Therefore, if there isn’t a local shelter in your community, you may wish to find one elsewhere. There are ASPCA adoption portals that can help you find a dog that will best fit your personal preferences and home situation.
PLEASE do not even consider adopting a dog if the situation or timing is not right. Unfortunately, even with the best of intentions, adopting a dog in haste rarely works out well for either the person or the dog. Take your time, and make sure that it is a good match.
Adopting a Shelter Dog Requires a Solid Commitment
The adoption of a dog should be a lifetime commitment. Of course, a truly unforeseen situation can happen. We have all heard heartbreaking stories of dogs having to be returned to a shelter for replacement.
Not every situation can be predicted nor avoided. We can do no more than our best to prevent such events. Of course, if they do occur, we must make every effort to find a suitable home for the dog. We cannot just leave his finding a home to luck.
To some people, their canine family members are more like their kids than their pet. Regardless, of the specific place…
Posted by Happymutt.org on Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Next Best to Adoption is Foster Care!
If the adoption of a shelter dog is not a good option for you, the next best thing is becoming a foster caregiver. Providing a shelter dog with a temporary home and some much needed TLC is a beautiful gift. Dogs are much better in even a temporary home than in a shelter and with a family than in a shelter.
Most communities have one or more shelters. There are also numerous rescue groups across the country as well. It is easy to contact one near you. They are happy to tell you about the explicit needs of their shelter and the requirements for providing foster care.
This is a touching story about a foster parent falling in love with his dog and deciding to adopt him: https://happymutt.org/man-cried-out-of-joy-after-knowing-he-can-keep-his-foster-dog/
From being a foster dog to a member of the family with a little sister
This is Drago and his favorite “sister”. Drago, or as I call him, “Big D”, came into the family as a foster pup. He quickly won the hearts of the entire family and was adopted.
What Can I Do Other Than Adopting or Fostering A Shelter Dog?
1. Be a volunteer at your local facility.
Many shelters offer several kinds of volunteer opportunities. The shelters need both administrative and hands-on volunteers. Is walking, grooming, or socializing with dogs in general your style of volunteering? Maybe helping with events and socializing with people is more to your liking. They need volunteers for all of the above! Contact a shelter located near you to find out how to volunteer.
Taking a field trip away from the shelter is a fun outing for these dogs
2. Spread awareness about shelter dog adoption. Post about locally adoptable dogs via Facebook and other social media.
Use all of your social media resources to share all the benefits of adopting a shelter dog. These dogs will bring them joy, love, and happiness.
Adopting a dog is an important way to save their life and to make room for another dog to enter the shelter. There is limited room in each rescue shelter, and dogs may have to be denied shelter because of a lack of space or food.
Each shelter facility only has resources to provide food and shelter for so many dogs. One dog adopted makes room for another dog. So, in effect, each adoption helps at least two dogs!
By sharing a potentially adoptable dog’s picture and profile via a social media post, you may encourage potential adopters to visit the shelter physically. Even if they do not adopt that dog, they may fall in love with another dog.
Give them some motivation to visit the shelter physically. A warm, furry, tail-wagging bundle of love has a better chance of being adopted than one no one has ever seen.
adopted dogs come in all sizes
Take every possible opportunity you get to share the heartwarming stories of successful shelter dog adoptions. Enthusiastically encourage dog lovers to volunteer at your local shelter or to provide rescue dog foster care. Keeping dogs out of a shelter is the best option. Dogs who are part of a family, even temporarily, rather than to be institutionalized, fit more easily into their forever family.
4. Start a fundraiser campaign for a rescue group or local shelter.
Even though many local shelters and rescue groups have annual fundraising events, there are other ways you can contribute to this effort. Contributions can be made locally or nationwide.
The ASPCA project known as “Become a part of Team ASPCA” is a fundraiser for vulnerable animals nationwide. Volunteers raise money by participating in an athletic event or in other creative ways. Some request that others donate to the ASPCA or other shelter/rescue in place of giving them a birthday or wedding gift. You may have noticed people on FaceBook asking for others to donate to a charity in their name for a special occasion. How and for whom you fundraise is up to you! Be creative!
5. Advocate for animals. This goes far beyond shelter dog adoption.
The ASPCA shares information on how to speak up for animals in need. They offer help in finding volunteer opportunities and give tips on how to make humane choices. You can do all of this right from home on your home computer.
6. Pamper all the dogs lucky enough to be in your family!
The ASPCA helps you to give your furry friends something special. You may wish to take their advice and consider making some homemade treats for your pets.
even shelter dogs deserve treats and attention
7.Donate to the ASPCA or other shelter or rescue group for any amount. These organizations are dedicated to caring for the most vulnerable dogs twenty-four hours a day for every day of the year. Without the physical and financial support of dog lovers like us, they cannot provide for even the most basic of the dog’s needs. These dogs are patiently waiting on their second, and maybe last, chances.
While the adoption of shelter dogs is not free, its value is priceless. Susan Sloan
