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National Adopt a Dog Month
National Adopt a Dog Month
American Humane Association's Adopt-a-Dog Month Gives
Homeless Dogs a New Leash on Life.
October 6, 2004
If you have considered adding a new dog to your family, October
is the time to do it.
Each October, the American Humane Association partners with
local animal shelters across the country in promoting Adopt-A-Dog
Month(R), a massive national campaign to highlight wonderful
homeless dogs waiting to be adopted. The special month encourages
people to visit their local animal shelter first to adopt
their new best friend.
"Right now there are millions of loving dogs in every size
and shape imaginable waiting anxiously in local shelters for
a home of their own. By choosing to adopt a dog during Adopt-A-Dog
Month, pet lovers are working to decrease the number of animals
left homeless each year -- a mission American Humane strives
for each day," says Marie Belew Wheatley, American Humane's
president and CEO.
According to American Humane, there are 68 million dogs living
in American households, but only 20 percent of them were adopted
from shelters. Roughly, 25 percent of dogs waiting to be adopted
in shelters are purebreds, many of them puppies.
"Animals shelters are the best place to find the perfect
dog to fit people's individual needs and lifestyles. Shelters
offer the greatest variety of choices -- puppies, older dogs,
mixed breeds, purebreds, large dogs, and small dogs. And shelters
have adoption counselors trained to match adopters with the
perfect pet," says Wheatley.
With so many wonderful dogs needing a home, it can be difficult
to choose. To make the decision-making process an easier one,
consider the following tips.
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Choose a dog based on your living space, lifestyle, and
budget. Your local shelter's adoption counselors can help
you make the right decision.
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Discuss the needs, concerns, fears, and medical conditions
(like allergies!) of everyone in the family. Decide how
much time you each can spend with the animal and the amount
of responsibility each person will have.
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Be realistic. Promises made by children are likely to
fade after the initial excitement of having a pet wears
off. Adults in the family should expect to provide most
of the animal's care.
Celebrate Adopt-A-Dog Month by visiting your local shelter
today. It's the perfect time to save a pet's life and make
a new friend!
About the American Humane Association
Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the
nation's only organization dedicated to protecting both children
and animals. Through a network of child and animal welfare
and protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops
policies, legislation, curriculum, and trainings to protect
children and animals from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver,
raises awareness about The Link(R) between animal abuse and
other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from
the human and animal bond. American Humane's regional office
in Los Angeles is the authority behind the "No Animals Were
Harmed ... "(TM) End Credit Disclaimer on TV and film productions,
and American Humane's office in Washington, DC, is an advocate
for child- and animal-friendly legislation at the state and
federal levels. Visit http://www.americanhumane.org
to learn more.
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