Demetr White / Stocksy
If you haven’t yet heard, October 1 marks the first day of one of the most important months for pups in need: Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. And while many shelters and rescues say every month is the right month to adopt a dog, October definitely calls for a special spotlight on hard-working shelters and the precious pooches in search of a forever home.
Read More
Michelle Edmonds / Stocksy
Adopting a dog elicits all kinds of feelings, from nerves about training or introducing your new pet to your resident family members to excitement about bonding with your new friend. One of the most fun parts about welcoming a new four-legged family member, however, is getting to choose their name. And if your new dog has a black coat, a whole new world of possibilities is thrown into the mix.
Read More
By Savannah Admire
Oleksiy Boyko / Alamy Stock Photo
Part of the fun of adopting a pet is deciding what to name them, but naming a Pit Bull can be challenging. Given that these breeds are plagued by largely unfounded stereotypes about their violence and ferocity (although they are slowly becoming better known as loyal and intelligent family dogs who are great with children), do you go with a strong name despite these negative perceptions? Or do you choose something a bit more whimsical and playful?
Read More
By Alicia Kort
Valentina Barreto / Stocksy
So you want to bring a pup into your home for the first time. Congratulations! It’s a big decision to make and one that prompts others, such as how to determine what kind of dog you should choose to adopt. It’s an important choice because certain dog breeds are better suited for first-time pet parents than others.
Read More
A step-by-step guide on how to adopt a cat — from where to begin looking to what the adoption process entails to how to prepare your home for your new pet.
By Tim Barribeau
Adopting a cat, especially if they’re your first, can feel like a terrifying jump into an ocean of the unknown. How do you adopt a cat? How do I choose a cat? What do I need to have at home? What does the application process look like? What if they hate me? As overwhelming as these questions can feel, most of them can be dealt with by taking a deep breath, doing some prep, and working your way through our step-by-step breakdown of the whole process.
Read More
By Julie Zeilinger
Manu Prats / Stocksy
September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month — a time for celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. So, what better time for us to elevate some of the incredible animal shelters and rescue organizations run by Hispanic and Latinx rescuers (who account for just under 20 percent of animal rescuers in the U.S.)?
Read More
By Debra J. White
Courtesy Humane Society Silicon Valley
Animal shelters save homeless dogs and cats, fight cruelty, and educate the public about pet overpopulation. But shelters themselves are rarely eco-friendly. When many of them were built, energy efficiency wasn’t a priority, air circulation systems were poor and there was a reliance on toxic materials, especially for cleaning. The good news is that this trend is beginning to take a green turn, one animal shelter at a time. Here are a few eco-friendly green animal shelters.
Read More
By Claudia Kawczynska
bit24 / AdobeStock
For the past few years, Dr. Melanie Sartore, associate professor of kinesiology at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, N.C., has offered her ever-popular physical activity course, Fitness Walking Coursework. The class? Students help to walk shelter dogs at the local Pitt County Animal Services center as part of the class’s shape-up program.
Read More
By Mollie Jackman
Demetr White / Stocksy
We’re all pet people here, so it’s time to let you in on a little secret: Sometimes, shelter volunteers, staff, and foster parents care so much for their temporary residents, that they only see the best in them. This can be great for shelter pets, who all deserve to be adored, but can also lead to unfortunate misunderstandings, such as pet parents deciding to adopt based on the shelter’s description of a “young, energetic and loyal dog,” but coming home to realize that they need to help address their new pup’s specific challenge of generalized anxiety or separation anxiety.
Read More
Ivan Ozerov / Stocksy
When looking to adopt a dog, people sometimes face the Goldilocks dilemma: some are too big, some are too small, and they need one who is just right. Medium-sized dogs are the perfect compromise for many pet parents.
Read More
