Discussing The Month-Long Holiday That Promotes And Celebrates Shelter Dogs

When people think of the month of October, the first thing that usually comes to mind is Halloween. While Halloween is a fun & exciting holiday, there is an even more important holiday that occurs in October. This holiday is called Adopt A Shelter Dog Month! This article will cover everything you need to know about Adopt A Shelter Dog Month including how the holiday started, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. 

Adopt Don't Shop
Adopt Don’t Shop

The Origin Of The Holiday

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month was founded in 1981 by the American Humane Association (A.H.A.). The A.H.A. is a non-profit organization that is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals. They are first to serve wherever animals are in need of rescue, protection, security, and shelter. This includes natural disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. They also help animals in need through promotional campaigns.

One such promotional campaign is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. The A.H.A. created Adopt A Shelter Dog Month because of the staggeringly high volumes of dogs and puppies in animal shelters across the U.S. This promotional campaign aims to promote shelter dog adoption and raise awareness about the struggles shelter dogs face. 

Why Have A Holiday About Shelter Dogs?

LIke most pet themed holidays, there is always a message behind the holiday itself. Adopt A Shelter Dog Month is no exception. What many people don’t realize is that animal shelters have a limited amount of space and resources. Additionally, there are far more shelter animals that need adoption than there are people willing to adopt them. Shelter animal overpopulation has been a serious problem for a long time. But, promotional campaigns like Adopt A Shelter Dog Month are helping to lower the amount of animals in shelters. 

A Shelter Dog
A Shelter Dog

The Sad Truth About Shelter Dogs

As previously mentioned, there is currently an overpopulation problem when it comes to shelter animals. According to the A.S.P.C.A. around 3.1 million dogs enter animal shelters in the U.S. every year. Due to an overpopulation of shelter dogs and limited resources & space, not all of these dogs will be adopted. Out of those 3.1 million shelter dogs, 390,000 are euthanized every year. These are tragically high statistics that truly reflect the severity of the struggles that shelter dogs face. Adopt A Shelter Dog Month aims to reduce these numbers significantly. 

How You Can Get Involved

Adopt A Shelter Dog Month aims to reduce the number of dogs in shelters by promoting their adoption. You can get involved with this amazing pet-themed holiday by promoting it on social media. A simple post about Adopt A Shelter Dog Month can help educate people about shelter dogs and how they desperately need good homes.

You can also observe Adopt A Shelter Dog Month by volunteering at a local animal shelter near you. Most animal shelters rely on volunteers and they are always looking for more help. Lastly, you can also participate in this incredible holiday by adopting a shelter dog! We understand that adopting a dog is a huge responsibility, so be certain you’re ready for that kind of commitment first.

A Professional Dog Walker
A Professional Dog Walker

Looking For A Pet Sitter Or Dog Walker?

If you or someone you know is looking for a pet sitter or dog walker, then look no further than My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting. We are fully insured & bonded and have over 10 years of experience working with animals. Click here to check out our wide variety of pet sitting services including in-home pet sitting and routine dog walking. We currently service the Medford, Medford Lakes, Shamong, and Tabernacle, NJ areas. To become a client, click here or give us a call at 856-217-2781. We hope to hear from you soon and happy Deaf Dog Awareness Week!