Are you thinking of adding a furry friend to your household? April 30 may be the perfect day to do it. It’s Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. According to the ASPCA, 6.5 million pets enter shelters every year in the United States. While this number seems very large, it has been declining in recent years. In fact, Pet adoptions have been on the rise since 2011. April 30 is a great day to help this trend continue.
Where to Find a Shelter Pet
Many shelters run discounted prices in honor of Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. You can check at your local shelter for details. Another great place to look for adoptable pets is Petfinder.com. Our family found all our rescue dogs using Petfinder. It’s a great resource for finding pet rescues and shelters in your area. If you’re not a dog or cat fan, no worries, they have other types of pets listed for adoption. You can also try The Shelter Pet Project. It’s a similar database of adoptable pets.
One thing you should not do is buy a pet from an online source like Craigslist. There is no oversight to these advertisements. You have no way of knowing whether anything posted about the animal is true. Reputable shelters and breeders do not sell on sites like Craigslist. I have even read reports about stolen puppies being resold online.
U.S. Pets and Shelters By the Numbers
- Approximately 3.2 million shelter pets are adopted each year in the U.S.
- Over 700,00 pets who end up in shelters are eventually returned to their owners.
- Each year in the U.S., about 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized.
- About 44% of all U.S. households have at least one dog. 35% have at least one cat.
- 23% of dog owners get their pets from shelters. 34% buy from breeders.
Our Furry Friends
Our household currently has two adopted pets. Penny came to us from an animal rescue. They rescued her from a local shelter. Rosie also came to us through the animal rescue/shelter route. They are quirky little dogs who add so much love and life to our home. Just yesterday, my son asked why our pets are so much cuter than everyone else’s. I smiled and said, “because they’re ours and they’re part of our family.”
We adopted Penny and Rosie shortly after the death of our first family pet, Lily. We lucked out adopting Lily. She was as good a dog as anyone could wish for and a perfect fit for our family. For more about our family’s experiences with our rescue pups, check out “Love on a Leash.” I also wrote about losing Lily in “Don’t Cry Because it’s Over, Smile Because it Happened.”
Benefits of Pet Ownership
Many organizations study the relationships between pets and people. There are quite a few benefits to owning a pet. Yes, they require care, come with a cost, and, sometimes, they can be messy. But the benefits often outweigh the costs.
Fewer Allergies
Yes, you read that right. Owning a dog, cat, or other pet can reduce the risk of allergies in your household. Several studies have shown that children raised in households with pets have fewer allergies than those with no pets. Studies also show that children exposed to animals early in life have stronger immune systems in general.
More Social Interaction
Pet ownership often leads people to more social interaction. For example, if you walk your dog in your neighborhood, you’re more likely to meet your neighbors. If you take your dog to a dog park, you’ll probably meet and talk with other pet owners. There are even social networking groups for pet owners. Check out Dogster.com or Catster,com.
Better Physical Health
Taking the dog for a walk isn’t just good for your social life, it’s good for your physical health. If you’re a cat owner, no worries, it turns out they’re good for your health too. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) both conducted studies on pet-ownership and heart health. Their findings demonstrated that pet owners (dogs and cats) have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Lowering these three numbers can minimize heart attack risks.
Fitness Motivation
A rescue dog provides a great reason for getting outdoors and going for a walk. It’s a win-win situation. Your dog gets exercise and so do you. Some dogs only need one or two walks per day. Other breed may need even more exercise. If you’re struggling to commit to a daily walk, perhaps having a dog that need walking is the next step for you. One study showed that dog owners who regularly walk their dogs are less likely to be obese than those who don’t walk a dog. I’m not sure we needed a study to know that, but there is scientific proof that walking you dog is good for your waistline.
Mental Health Help
Many studies have found that pet ownership helps alleviate depression and anxiety. Positive pet-human interactions have been shown to reduce stress levels and increase oxytocin levels in our brains. In simpler terms, having a good relationship with a pet makes us feel happier. In fact,74% of pet owners report mental health improvements from pet ownership. Pets can also alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.
For more information about the benefits of pet ownership, check out the Human Animal Bonding Research Institute (HABRI) website. This organization focuses on “the relationship between animals and people and the impact of this relationship on the health of individuals, families, and communities.”
Can’t Adopt? You Can Still Help
Maybe you aren’t in the market for a new pet. The good news is you can still celebrate Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. Animal shelters are always in need of help and donations. Donations of old towels, blankets, pet toys, and even tennis balls are often greatly appreciated. Shelters often need extra hands. You can even be a volunteer to walk and exercise the animals. You can do that and get some exercise for yourself at the same time. It’s another win-win situation.
Please note this post contains affiliate links. See disclosure page for details.
