Dogs
By Julia Williams
As an animal lover, I’ve always hoped I might live to see a day where very few cats and dogs languish in shelters waiting to find their forever home. Although the number of homeless animals is much smaller today than several decades ago, there are still far too many healthy animals in shelters that would make perfectly wonderful family pets. There’s no central data reporting agency for animal shelters at this time, but the Humane Society of the United States estimates that between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year, and only a fraction of those end up finding homes.
Those aren’t rosy statistics by any means. However, I prefer not to dwell on the negative but focus on the positive. Low cost spay-and-neuter programs, along with extensive public outreach and education, helps the numbers get smaller each year. And with generous companies like CANIDAE around to sponsor animal charities like the Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, many more pets get to remain in their home instead of being surrendered to shelters.
I may not live to see that utopian day I dream about, but I can still celebrate the small victories. I can feel happy for those fortunate few shelter dogs and cats who do find loving homes. And lastly, I can encourage those who have room in their house and heart to visit their local animal shelter this month during Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.
In order to raise awareness of all those healthy, affectionate felines who need homes, the ASPCA sponsors Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat each June. It’s timed to coincide with the start of “kitten season,” when shelters are inundated with beautiful feline babies born in the spring and summer.
Many animal shelters across the nation celebrate Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month by reducing the fee charged to place felines in their new forever homes. All of the shelter cats available for adoption have been spayed or neutered, and thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian. All they need is to find a family.
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month is a purrfect time to fall in “feline love” with one of the millions of homeless cats living in animal shelters nationwide. Whether you prefer a young and frisky kitten or a cat that’s mellowed with age, you’re sure to meet your perfect match. After you fill out some paperwork, you can take your new friend home to discover the many benefits of being owned by a cat: happiness, companionship, amusement, never-ending purrs, and love that fills your heart to the brim.
This June, why not make your way to your local shelter to find the feline of your dreams!
Read more articles by Julia Williams
- The Changing Face Of Animal Shelters
By Linda Cole For many years, animal shelters have been a place where pet owners could take their dog or cat when they could no longer care for them. That's still the case, but today's shelters have expanded to become more than just a shelter...
- 2011 Is The “year Of The Cat”
By Julia Williams While the Chinese celebrate 2011 as the Year of the Rabbit, the Vietnamese zodiac says it’s the Year of the Cat (Năm Tân Mão ). People born under the sign of the Cat are said to be ambitious, talented, sensitive, compassionate...
- International Homeless Animals Day
By Julia Williams In 1992, the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) introduced National Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigils, created as an innovative educational tool for informing the public about pet overpopulation. Since then, ISAR...
- Happy Mew Year! Important Pet-related Dates For 2010
By Julia Williams Humans have an inordinate number of days, weeks and months each year designated as holidays or tributes, or “special” days that recognize this, that and the other. Some are national holidays of a serious nature, while others are...
- Pets And The Economy
Let’s face it, the economy isn’t just hard on the human population these days. Many animals are being left behind or abandoned on the streets or given up at shelters because their owners can no longer afford to take care of them. This is a sad fact...
Dogs
Save a Life: June is “Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat” Month
By Julia Williams
As an animal lover, I’ve always hoped I might live to see a day where very few cats and dogs languish in shelters waiting to find their forever home. Although the number of homeless animals is much smaller today than several decades ago, there are still far too many healthy animals in shelters that would make perfectly wonderful family pets. There’s no central data reporting agency for animal shelters at this time, but the Humane Society of the United States estimates that between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year, and only a fraction of those end up finding homes.
Those aren’t rosy statistics by any means. However, I prefer not to dwell on the negative but focus on the positive. Low cost spay-and-neuter programs, along with extensive public outreach and education, helps the numbers get smaller each year. And with generous companies like CANIDAE around to sponsor animal charities like the Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, many more pets get to remain in their home instead of being surrendered to shelters.
I may not live to see that utopian day I dream about, but I can still celebrate the small victories. I can feel happy for those fortunate few shelter dogs and cats who do find loving homes. And lastly, I can encourage those who have room in their house and heart to visit their local animal shelter this month during Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.
In order to raise awareness of all those healthy, affectionate felines who need homes, the ASPCA sponsors Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat each June. It’s timed to coincide with the start of “kitten season,” when shelters are inundated with beautiful feline babies born in the spring and summer.
Many animal shelters across the nation celebrate Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month by reducing the fee charged to place felines in their new forever homes. All of the shelter cats available for adoption have been spayed or neutered, and thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian. All they need is to find a family.
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month is a purrfect time to fall in “feline love” with one of the millions of homeless cats living in animal shelters nationwide. Whether you prefer a young and frisky kitten or a cat that’s mellowed with age, you’re sure to meet your perfect match. After you fill out some paperwork, you can take your new friend home to discover the many benefits of being owned by a cat: happiness, companionship, amusement, never-ending purrs, and love that fills your heart to the brim.
This June, why not make your way to your local shelter to find the feline of your dreams!
Read more articles by Julia Williams
- The Changing Face Of Animal Shelters
By Linda Cole For many years, animal shelters have been a place where pet owners could take their dog or cat when they could no longer care for them. That's still the case, but today's shelters have expanded to become more than just a shelter...
- 2011 Is The “year Of The Cat”
By Julia Williams While the Chinese celebrate 2011 as the Year of the Rabbit, the Vietnamese zodiac says it’s the Year of the Cat (Năm Tân Mão ). People born under the sign of the Cat are said to be ambitious, talented, sensitive, compassionate...
- International Homeless Animals Day
By Julia Williams In 1992, the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) introduced National Homeless Animals Day and Candlelight Vigils, created as an innovative educational tool for informing the public about pet overpopulation. Since then, ISAR...
- Happy Mew Year! Important Pet-related Dates For 2010
By Julia Williams Humans have an inordinate number of days, weeks and months each year designated as holidays or tributes, or “special” days that recognize this, that and the other. Some are national holidays of a serious nature, while others are...
- Pets And The Economy
Let’s face it, the economy isn’t just hard on the human population these days. Many animals are being left behind or abandoned on the streets or given up at shelters because their owners can no longer afford to take care of them. This is a sad fact...