|
Home 
Dog
Adoptions
Adopt an Orphaned Pet Day
Adopt an Orphaned Pet Day
2nd Chance 4 Pets is seeking owners to adopt find homes
for pets who becamed orphaned after their owners died.
September 9, 2004
On the eve of remembrance of the tragedy of 9-11, 2nd Chance
4 Pets has launched a national campaign to promote adopting
orphaned pets from shelters. Over 500,000 pets are orphaned
each year due to the death or disability of their human companions.
2nd Chance 4 Pets is the first organization to focus their
efforts on this long, unrecognized issue, and Adopt an Orphaned
Pet Day is helping to create awareness and reduce the numbers
of companion animals needlessly euthanized throughout the
US each year
Adopt an Orphaned Pet Day has been established in tribute
to the 800 pets that were orphaned on 9/11 in New York City
and their human companions who tragically died. Fortunately,
animal rescue groups across the country joined forces to find
new homes for these pets. Unfortunately, there are not enough
resources to currently help find homes for all 500,000 pets
that become orphaned each year when their owners die.
2nd Chance 4 Pets is exposing the problem of pets being relinquished
and euthanized due to their human companions’ death or disability.
Pet owners predecease their pets due to natural and man-made
tragedies- hurricanes, fires, floods, car accidents and even
terrorism. Unfortunately, there are 500,000 reasons for pet
owners to plan for the lifetime care of their pets while they
are able to make such important decisions.
“Most responsible pet owners are not aware of the planning
options that are available to ensure continuous care for their
pets”, says Amy Shever, Director of 2nd Chance 4 Pets. “Our
organization is helping pet owners plan for the lifetime care
of their pets by assisting them with establishing emergency
plans, and encouraging them to select other caregivers who
are committed to caring for their pets.”
“575 dogs and cats were put to death is US shelters every
hour last year,” says Cyrus Mejia, artist and creator of The
Best Friends Animal Society Art Project, a memorial to these
pets. “Since many of these animals are healthy and adoptable
the efforts of 2nd Chance 4 Pets have tremendous potential
to significantly reduce these numbers. It will guarantee life
for pets that have provided constant love and companionship.”
In California alone, animal control agencies and shelters
euthanize an estimated 750,000 to 1 million dogs and cats
annually to deal with the surplus of companion animals. This
method of animal control costs California taxpayers in excess
of $50 million annually (Assembly Bill 2513). Spay and neuter
programs represent the most successful organized prevention
strategy to reduce the number of pets relinquished to animal
shelters each year. These programs have reduced unwanted breeding
and population, but the numbers of pets still being euthanized
throughout the country is still at epidemic levels.
“The tragedy of 9/11 forced many of us to realize that we
need to plan ahead for the care of all aspects of our lives
– including our pets,” explains Jane Hoffman, President of
the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC's Animals. “We are encouraging
pet owners to make sure that should anything happen, their
pets are cared for. The lives of thousands of animals will
be saved, and pet owners will benefit from peace of mind knowing
that they have planned for the lifetime care of their pets.”
About 2nd Chance for Pets
The mission of 2nd Chance 4 Pets is to reduce the number
of pets unnecessarily euthanized each year due to the death
or incapacity of their human companions who care for them.
2nd Chance 4 Pets is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and
is currently working throughout California and extending their
programs nationwide to provide pet owners with comprehensive
information and lifetime care solutions, ensuring that their
pets will always be cared for. 2nd Chance 4 Pets Adopt an
Orphaned Pet Day is being co-sponsored by PetGuardian. For
more information, please visit www.2ndchance4pets.org
or www.petguardian.com
|
