Adopt a Shelter Dog Month is in October

A dog enjoys 4th of July with a festive bandanna. Photo provided by Best Friends Animal Society
A dog enjoys 4th of July with a festive bandanna. Photo provided by Best Friends Animal Society /
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October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and Best Friends Animal Society has a request: If you’re able to and have the resources, please consider adopting a rescue pet from your local shelter.

While the no-kill rate is trending downward successfully, a lot of shelter animals still have to be put down, which is why it’s important to adopt from a rescue when possible.

Besides this, having a pet is also beneficial to our health as humans.

“Studies have shown that having pets reduces stress and lowers anxiety. This is especially helpful during challenging times like we’ve experienced over the last year and a half,” Best Friends veterinarian and medical director Emily Katribe said in a press release. “Dogs are also great walking or hiking buddies. It’s like having a personal trainer with four legs.”

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month is in October, and Best Friends hopes you can adopt if you’re able.

Many senior dogs in shelters are already housebroken, and it usually is a quick adjustment to re-learn that behavior once the initial stress of the move is over.

Considering your lifestyle is also an important element to consider when it comes to adopting a shelter dog – will it fit with your family? (Do you have small kids? A large-ish dog isn’t probably a good plan).. Do you often go hiking? Then you may want more of an energetic breed. On the other hand, if you’d prefer to watch Netflix or read most nights, a couch potato would be a good cuddle buddy.

Fostering is also a a great choice beforehand to get used to the peculiarities of a new canine in your household, and being aware of your dog’s medical history is also a good idea – if your human family members have medical issues or are going through weddings/divorces, then a high-maintainance dog isn’t a very good plan, and puppies are wonderfully cute, but also take a lot of time and energy to train.

Best Friends is an organization founded in the early 1980s in Kanab, Utah, where their headquarters remain, and there are also offices in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Their goal is to make all shelters no-kill by 2025 if possible, and they have previously hosted a concert and teamed up with NASCAR driver Alex Bowman earlier this year.

Next. Rescue Alumni Collection from Grounds and Hounds Coffee is pawesome apparel. dark

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month would be a great time to adopt a new dog if you can.