PET ADOPTION: IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO!

October is nationally recognized as “Adopt a Shelter Dog” month.  The Fairfax County Animal Shelter got a head start on this initiative with its August Pet Adoption campaign, promoting the time still left in the summer for families, in particular, to adopt animals and get them acclimated to their new homes before the start of the school year.  This shelter is one of many entities run by local governments in Northern Virginia which rescue, foster, and adopt out homeless animals.  There are other organizations which also rescue homeless animals which are privately funded.  If you do an Internet search of local animal shelters in Northern Virginia, you will find sites for the Animal Welfare Leagues of both Alexandria and Arlington, as well as sites for privately-run organizations such as Lost Dog and Cat Rescue, HART, the Humane Society of Fairfax County, Friends of Homeless Animals, and King Street Cats, to name a few. 

It is never too late to adopt a pet.  Even kids adapting to new school routines may find they have more time than anticipated to take on a rewarding responsibility such as pet ownership.  For anyone considering a new pet addition, searching the Petfinder web site will provide photos and information on all the pets available for adoption whose information has been provided by a rescue organization or animal shelter.  There are also myriad web sites which focus on specific breeds and organizations.  Rescued shelter animals are not always “mutts.”  Many of them are purebreds.  They also can be pets who have been given up for such reasons as their size, their owner’s misfortune or passing, or owner abuse and neglect.  Many rescue animals are also older and can be a great choice for people who don’t want to deal with the limitless energy or intensive training that goes with taking on a puppy or kitten.  Also, older animals may already be housebroken or litter-trained, socialized with people and other animals, and full of enough energy to meet whatever expectation you might have.  If you want a specific breed of animal, rescue groups can be your best source.  And oftentimes, shelters and other animal rescue organizations will work with individuals who have special requests for particular animals and call them when such a prospective pet comes into the shelter.

If adopting a pet is not an option for you at this time, but you still want physical contact with animals, there are numerous opportunities at any of these animal rescue organizations to volunteer.  You can usually get as involved as you want to be when you volunteer.  There are also community service opportunities at some shelters for teenagers who have that requirement as part of their school curriculum.   And for those of you who cannot have physical contact with an animal, you can still do something good for the animals.  Go to a shelter web site of your choice and see if there are any items needed that you can donate to the animals such as old rugs, towels, and food or toy items.  Winter is coming, and your donations will be most welcome.

Happy Tails!