Though we are midway through the month of October, time has not permitted me to share this information
sooner. (The life of a writer! Sheesh…!) The American Humane Association has labeled this month as “Adopt-a-Dog Month.” There are millions of dogs in shelters and each one is potentially facing a very bleak future. You never know how they ended up there—it could be a great older dog whose owners just couldn’t take care of him or a young puppy whose owners had too many in a litter. Whatever the case, wouldn’t it be a great time to see if a pet might fit into your family? Marie Belew Wheatley, president and CEO of American Humane, stated, “Right now there is a greater need than ever for people to go to a shelter and find their new best friend. The nation’s economy is negatively impacting community shelters and rescue organizations, filling them to capacity many times over. This October, we hope people will renew their commitment to help these animals that are so in need of forever homes.”
October is Adopt-a-Dog Month
If you have assessed your home and this just isn’t the right time to get a dog, there are still some valuable things you can do to help. First, you might see if you can volunteer at your local shelter or animal rescue group. Most are looking for responsible animal-lovers all year long and welcome a pair of loving hands. You could volunteer at a shelter to help care for the animals. If you don’t have time for that, what about offering your services? Start up a website that focuses on the dog you saw at the shelter but can’t take home yourself. Put his or her picture up and do a little grass-roots promoting to help find the dog a good home. If you want something less hands-on, how about editing or creating the shelter’s newsletter? Offer to put together a flyer of events and then post them around your neighborhood for added marketing.
Another good way to help is to support your local shelters. And I'm not just talking about money—we all know how tight that is these days. But what about blankets, food, toys, newspaper, treats, etc? Shelters need all these things and would be more than thankful for citizens dropping off a bag of dog food for their hungry little mouths. On the other hand, if you can donate financially, check out the American Humane’s grants for animals. There are the Foreclosure Pets Grant and Second Chance. Both allow you to make contributions for grants that help abused, neglected, abandoned or relinquished pets and both are entirely funded by donations. And before you ask, this money does go directly to help animals. (I asked too!)
For more information on the American Humane Association, visit: www.americanhumane.org. Whatever your choice, please get out there and help a needy animal find a better life.
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