October just happens to be National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month! In honor of promoting shelter dog adoptions, many shelters throughout the country are offering discounts on the adoption fees of dogs during the month of October.
When you adopt from a shelter, not only are you finding a new best friend, but you're also saving a life! Nearly half of all adoptable dogs in shelters are euthanized. In some shelters, that percentage is much higher.
A lot of people have the misconception that dogs that end up in shelters have behavioral problems, or they have been abused. This is not always the case. There are many different reasons dogs end up in shelters. With the current state of the economy, many people are forced to get rid of their pets because they can no longer afford to keep them. Often pets are taken to the shelter because their owners move or have a new baby. Sometimes dogs end up in shelters because they didn't get along with other household pets. Some dogs are in shelters because their owners passed away or had to be hospitalized for long periods of time.
While most dogs in shelters are mixed breeds, there are also a lot of purebred dogs that end up in shelters. At your local shelter, you can find all different types of dogs in all different shapes, sizes, ages and personalities!
The truth is, there are a lot of sweet, wonderful, well-behaved dogs in shelters looking for loving, caring homes. So if you're thinking about getting a new dog, look no further than your local animal shelter!If you're not looking to get a new dog at the moment, there are other ways you can help! You can sponsor a pet, volunteer your time, donate money, or donate needed supplies such as food, bedding, leashes, collars, or treats.
And be sure to vote for your local shelter in The Animal Rescue Site's $100,000 Shelter Challenge! To vote, just visit the site at http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ and click the purple button that says "Click to Give- It's FREE" Then once your click has been counted, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the graphic that mentions the $100,000 Shelter Challenge. Enter in your city and state and search for nearby shelters and vote!
All of the photographs featured in this article are photos I've taken of different local shelter dogs I've had the pleasure of working with at the adoption center where I volunteer.
