Be A Hero!

Do you have a hero in your life?  Someone for whom you feel sincere gratitude and unconditional love?  Well, dogs want a hero in their lives too but, unfortunately, they often don’t get their wishes granted.  They often end up either abandoned on the streets where they’re left to fend for themselves or taken to shelters where they face the possibility of euthanization.  Becoming a dog’s hero is probably one of the greatest feel-good experiences you will ever have, and you’ll be rewarded every time your four-legged companion shares big sloppy kisses, nudges your hand when he or she wants to be pet, or just curls up next to you on the couch while you’re watching your favorite movie.            

 
October is Adopt-A-Dog month which was established in 1981 as an annual event to encourage people to save lives and enhance their own lives by adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group.  Thirty-six years later, that message is just as strong, true and important as ever!  Each year, an estimated 3-4 million animals wait in shelters for someone to give them a safe, loving home but  never find a hero to adopt them and are subsequently euthanized.  If you’re thinking about getting a dog, be a hero and consider adopting one from your local shelter.  You’ll be saving a life and greatly improving yours! 

 
Dogs are amazing, supportive, and heroic companions who can make a huge difference in your world as a best friend, an exercise buddy, or simply be a furry face to greet you after a long day at work.  Some may even be able to provide animal-assisted therapy and help those with challenges.  Your local shelter is the perfect place to find dogs of every type, size, age and personality — all waiting for a loving home.  If you prefer a particular breed that isn’t currently available at a shelter, you can try going online to find a breed-specific rescue group in need of adopters like you. 

 
Here are some other things you can do to celebrate Adopt-A-Dog month.  

 
When you’re ready to open your heart and home to a new best friend, adopt from your local animal shelter or rescue group.  Talk with shelter staff to find the perfect match for you and your lifestyle, and remember that older dogs make excellent pets too.

 

Have your dog spayed or neutered, thus preventing the possibility of unexpected and potentially unwanted puppies.  Spayed and neutered animals have been shown to lead longer, healthier lives and have fewer behavioral problems than animals who have not been spayed or neutered.

 

Putting identification on your dog - either in the form of a tag, a microchip or both - reduces the chance that your beloved pet will become one of the presumably “homeless” dogs who end up at shelters.  Only about 15-20 percent of dogs who enter a shelter are reunited with their owners.  Make sure your dog is one of the lucky ones!

 

Show the animals at your local shelter or rescue group that you care by donating time, money or supplies like pet food, leashes, beds and toys.  Call the shelter to see what supplies or services are needed most.

 
If you haven’t yet experienced the remarkable power of the human-animal bond, consider adoption and find out just how life-changing it can be.  With so many dogs in shelters across the country available for adoption — and many of them never finding a safe, loving, furever home — adopting a dog will make you a true hero!

 
Happy tails to you until we meet again!