And for some, getting a dog during the holidays sounds like a wonderful idea for the season of giving. However, this heartwarming moment doesn’t always end in a happily ever after.

Getting a dog as a “surprise” gift is not something we recommend. After all, pets are not gifts, they are a a lifelong commitment.

However, if you want to adopt a dog this holiday season, then you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about holiday dog adoption.

Continue reading to find out if you’re ready to for a new furry addition to the family this holiday season!

Adopting a pet during the holiday season has long been a subject of controversy. Because a lot of people surprise their loved ones with dogs as gifts, only for them to give the dog away to a shelter after a few months.

Giving a dog as a “surprise” gift during the holiday season can be risky. Pets are a responsibility, and you need to be prepared and be able to provide its needs in order to take care of it.

However, if you’ve carefully thought and prepared for the responsibilities being a dog parent entails, then you can make a furry friend’s holiday (and yours, too) a lot more magical by adopting them.

Factors To Consider When Adopting A Dog During The Holidays

There’s plenty of reasons to adopt a dog, but there’s just something so special and magical about doing so during the Season of Giving, but only if you do it right!

Still unsure if adopting a pooch this holiday is the right time for you? Here are some important factors you should consider:

1. Recipient

Who is the dog intended for? Is it going to be for you? For your child? For the family? For a friend? Furthermore, do you know if the recipient has any allergies you should consider?

This is why holiday dog adoption has become so controversial. Because the recipient of the pooch is not at all prepared for the lifelong commitment of taking care of a dog.

Liking dogs is not synonymous to being able to take care of one. Also, you need to remember that children can be too immature and distracted to fully understand and commit to taking care of a dog.

At the end of the day, if the dog is for your child, then you’ll be ultimately responsible for your child’s furry friend.

2. Cost

Getting a dog and taking care of one can be costly. It means having to spend money on food, veterinary care, grooming, training, and other pet supplies. So, you have to make sure that whoever is getting the dog is financially prepared.

Furthermore, the cost of adopting a dog depends on the local shelter or rescue you’re getting it from.

3. Family Preparedness

Taking care of a dog is a lot of work. If the dog is going to live with you and your family, make sure that everyone is involved in the whole process — from the adoption process, feeding, walking, grooming, training, veterinary care, etc.

4. Living Situation

Is your living situation suitable for the dog you’re adopting? Will it be living with other pets? Children? Or both? Will you be able to set aside time to take it on walks, train it, or spend time with it?

You have to consider your living situation and lifestyle before getting a dog. Furthermore, while there are some low energy dog breeds, there are some that are high energy and need a lot of exercise, too.

5. Commitment

We want to reiterate that adopting a dog is a lifelong commitment. So whether you adopt a dog during the holidays or not, taking care of one goes beyond the holiday season.

While having a dog in your life brings immense joy and comfort, it also brings a lot of responsibilities. So, before pushing with that holiday dog adoption, ask yourself: are you (or the recipient) ready to take on all of these responsibilities for a long time?

The Pros And Cons Of Holiday Dog Adoption

Pros

There are a lot of reasons to get a new dog for the holidays, and these include:

• It adds to the holiday joy. Getting a dog during the Season of Giving feels a lot more special and it’s no secret that dogs (or pets in general) help reduce stress and anxiety.
• Be able to establish new traditions. Having a dog at home means having new and fun holiday traditions! Like taking a family picture with your pooch, buying them their own holiday gifts, and so much more!
• Family bonding. With everyone on vacation, the whole family has extra time at home to bond and train the new pet. Furthermore, this is also a great time to help the dog through its transition period. Both the family and the new pet can have the time to get to know each other and settle in at home a lot better.
• A gift of companionship. If everyone at home has carefully considered the decision and is prepared for the new furry addition to the family, then your holiday dog adoption is going to be a wonderful and magical gift of companionship for everyone in the family.
• It saves a dog’s life. Did you know that 3.1 million dogs enter shelters every year? So, holiday dog adoption, when done right, can save a dog’s life. Also, it helps make room for other animals at local shelters and rescues.

Cons

While holiday dog adoption has a lot of pros, it also has its share of drawbacks. Here are a few you should consider before going through with that adoption:

• Making impulsive decisions. The festivity that the season brings might lead to impulsive decisions, such as adopting a dog. Again, we’d like to reiterate that dog adoption is a long-term responsibility.
• Time commitment. Even though everyone is on vacation during the holidays, the season can still be hectic! You have holiday activities to plan, or even travel plans! This may not be ideal to a dog who’s just adjusting to a new home.
• Stress for the dog. Not having enough time to take care of the dog can stress it out. Furthermore, the holidays can be noisy with a lot of guests coming over, loud fireworks, and other noises — a dog may find such environment overwhelming.

Holiday Dog Adoption Tips

You think you’re ready for this lifelong commitment with a furry friend? Here are a few tips for holiday dog adoption:

1. Plan the adoption thoroughly. Make sure that you are making an informed decision to adopt, and that everyone in the family is on board and ready for the newest addition to the family.
2. Look for and choose a local animal shelter or rescue organization. We highly encourage that you choose a dog from a local animal shelter or rescue. While many shelters discourage holiday dog adoption due to the above mentioned cons, there may be some that will accommodate your request, especially if you are prepared and serious about the adoption.
3. Make sure you’re spending most of the holidays at home. A dog’s transition period is important, but can be difficult and stressful for them if not done right. So, to ensure that the pooch has enough time to get to know the family, settle into the house, and start establishing routines, make sure you are spending the holidays at home.
4. Consider waiting to adopt until January. Can’t give up a planned holiday trip but is really willing to and prepared to adopt? Or is the holiday schedule too tight for a holiday dog adoption? Then it might be worth it to wait till January, after the hustle and bustle of the season.
5. Make sure everyone is on board. If the dog is going to be a family pet, then ensure that everyone is on board with the decision. Furthermore, make sure that they’re ready and that they understand the responsibilities it entails to care for a dog.

Conclusion

Pets, no matter the occasion or season, are not just “gifts”. And while there is just something so wonderful about holiday dog adoption, it’s important to remember that adopting a dog, or any kind of pet, is a serious and lifelong commitment.

If you think you can’t fulfill the duty of a dog parent, then you might want to cross ‘adopting a dog’ off your Christmas wish list!

In the video, you can see three people in a shelter passing by the kennel of a 6-year-old Siberian Husky, named Elias.

You can see the pooch sitting down patiently behind the metal bars of his kennel where he looks at the people walking past him, hoping they’ll notice him.

The caption of the original post on Reddit read, “This is the life of an overlooked shelter dog. Many people pass kennels, taking a glance & moving onto the next. Unnoticed, forgotten.”

Elias is a shelter dog from the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care Center in California. And the person who posted his video on Reddit provided information about the shelter Elias is from, in hopes that the sweet pooch will be adopted soon.

Animal lovers on Reddit are heartbroken for Elias after watching the 23-second clip of him. And many users wished Elias would soon find a forever home to love him.

One user wrote, “How sad to see this from their perspective. Damn, that really hit me. ‘Choose me, choose me, I’ll be a good boy!'”

Another user said, “It’s heartbreaking to watch, he or she is just as deserving as the rest.” While another wrote, “We don’t deserve dogs and dogs don’t deserve this!”

According to the original poster, Reddit user Stickysmithers, Elias is still up for adoption.

If you’re interested in giving Elias his long-awaited forever home, you can contact the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care Center at 909-466-7387.

Or you can visit the shelter at 11780 Arrow Route Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. They are open from Wednesday to Saturday from 2 PM until 5 PM.

Gucci, an 11-year-old Chihuahua mix, was recently adopted in what seems like a perfect match for a 100-year-old California resident.

Johanna Carrington has had many pets over the years, including eight Pekingese at one point when she and her late husband were living together. After Carrington’s previous dog, Rocky, passed away, her home felt unusually quiet. When she told her daughter, Debbie Carrington, 64, that she wanted to adopt another dog, they were concerned that a shelter would not allow a woman her age to adopt a pet.

Thankfully, one of their Moss Beach neighbors works as a volunteer for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and thought the group might be able to assist. It turned out that Gucci, who was then known as Gnocchi, had just been saved from a hoarding situation involving 22 dogs. The little dog appeared prepared to live alone in a home where he could receive a lot of love and care.

Eddie Martinez, Johanna Carrington’s caregiver, agreed to walk Gucci every day and assist with his care as a condition of the adoption. Gucci’s foster parent drove the little dog to meet Carrington on September 2, and the latter made himself at home right away.

Carrington said, “He came to the house like he’d been here before. It was remarkable. He saw me sitting on my chair, jumped up on me and sat on my lap. He made himself very, very comfortable. He was just our baby right away.”

She has given her new friend “oodles and oodles” of toys that he enjoys fetching, and she also massages his back while they both watch TV. Gucci enjoys creating a cozy nest in their bed’s blankets at night.

Carrington hopes to have a good time with Gucci this December as she turns 101. She “definitely” believes that spending time with pets is one of the secrets to a long, happy life, even though she attributes her longevity to a healthy lifestyle (she has never had a cigarette or even a sip of alcohol).

“Animals bring so much happiness in our home,” she said. “It’s unbelievable.”

In February, a 5-year old rescue dog named Luke broke hearts when he got stood up during the Battersea Brands Hatch shelter’s Valentine’s-themed adoption party. 

Before the event, Luke spent 200 days at the shelter. News of his poorly-attended party touched many hearts worldwide and lots of people sent Luke toys, handwritten love notes, donations, and letters expressing their interest in adopting him.

Among Luke’s many admirers were Karl and Jill Kendrick of Derbyshire, England. Battersea Brands Hatch shelter found them to be the perfect new fur-parents for Luke. After 225 long days in the shelter, Luke found his fur-ever home with the Kendricks and has fallen in love!

Karl Kendrick told People News that, “We feel so lucky to be the family who gives Luke his forever home, and he has really made our family unit complete. He’ll never spend Valentine’s Day alone again.”

To learn more about the shelter, you may visit their website.
According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.1 million dogs enter US animal shelters every year. You may want to consider adopting your next fur baby. Here are more reasons why you should adopt a rescue puppy.

This isn’t the first time that the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Facility SPCA facility flies dogs to their new homes. But for the first time, other provincial chapters have helped charter flights for these dogs. 

The 35 dogs and puppies were sent to Gander and St. John’s due to the overwhelm in the Labrador facility. 15 dogs were sent to Gander while 20 to St. John’s.

Bonnie Learning, the Vice-President of Happy Valley-Goose Bay SPCA, informed CBC News that, “As we usually are, we’re way over capacity and we’re having a hard time moving them lately with regular flights because of reduced flights for the winter schedule.”

Not only are they able to give these dogs a second chance, they’re also able to clear space in the facility. 

The pups’ chaotic, but successful arrival at the facilities marked the new lives of these dogs. For the Gander SPCA facility, they haven’t experienced being so busy in a long time and the inquiries flooded in.

Some of these dogs lived difficult lives, so the facilities were more than grateful that they were able to help Happy Valley-Goose Bay SPCA and bring these dogs to their new homes. 

The sad news is that there are plenty of shelters that are overcrowded with dogs and cats. If you have plans of getting a new fur-ever companion, then adopting a dog could be for you. Who knows? Perhaps a shelter dog could be your next best friend.

Black dogs have the lowest adoption rate and the highest euthanasia rate than any other color dog in shelters. Those that are adopted typically spend about 4-times longer in the shelter waiting for their forever family. It’s a phenomenon that shelter workers and rescuers are all too familiar with called “Black Dog Syndrome.”

Why are black dogs so often overlooked?

1. Superstition. Folklore and pop culture has, many times, depicted black dogs in a negative way that may have subconsciously affected how they’re viewed by potential adopters. In stories, books, and movies where a dangerous dog is depicted, that dog is very often black. The Hound of the Baskervilles, the Harry Potter Series, and The Omen have all depicted evil, frightening dogs – all of those dogs were black. Black has, throughout history, been the color most commonly used to represent negativity, evil and misfortune. For this reason, some people tend to believe that black dogs are unlucky.

2. Black dogs stand out less than lighter colored dogs in shelters. In dimly lit kennels, black dogs naturally tend to stand out less than their lighter canine brothers and sisters. Further, many shelters and rescues use photographs to attract potential adopters. Because of their color, black dogs are harder to photograph, making it difficult to capture their personalities in photos.

3. Many people are simply unaware of Black Dog Syndrome. While rescuers and animal advocates are well aware of Black Dog Syndrome, the general public are largely unaware of the phenomenon, not even realizing that they’re overlooking an amazing potential family member in favor of a lighter colored dog. Luckily, once people become aware of the phenomenon, they are less likely to ignore black dogs in need of loving homes.

There are countless reasons to bring home a black dog – but what’s the most important one? Black dogs are still least likely to be adopted, are most commonly euthanized, and they need people like you to give them a chance!

How can I help put an end to Black Dog Syndrome?

Even if you’re not looking to adopt, you can still help in the fight against Black Dog Syndrome!

• Tell people about Black Dog Syndrome! BDS is largely a subconscious prejudice that people quickly move past once they become aware of it.
• If you share your heart and home with a black dog, proudly display their photographs. Let others know that black dogs are just as amazing as lighter colored dogs!
• Encourage friends and family that are looking to adopt to consider a black dog.
• Spread awareness! The more people know about Black Dog Syndrome, the less likely these great dogs will suffer.

Hopefully, with an increase of awareness, this trend will soon be a thing of the past. In honor of Black Dog Friday, why not visit your local animal shelter and add a black furry friend to your family!

Each year, an estimated 860,000 cats and 670,000 dogs are euthanized in the nation’s shelters. Many potential pet adopters overlook older animals, thinking that they may be more difficult and unaware there are so many reasons why these seasoned pets make ideal family members and friends:

• They tend to be less rambunctious than younger animals
• They’re often already house-trained
• Because they are calmer and less fragile, they can be a great fit for people with children
• They know you are rescuing them and are so grateful

“It’s heartbreaking to think about all the senior animals who had been cherished pets before they suddenly found themselves frightened and alone in shelters,” said Robin Ganzert, PhD, president and CEO of American Humane. “Far too often this happens to older pets through no fault of their own after their families encounter financial troubles, illnesses, or other upheavals in their lives. By adopting animals like these, you will not only be giving them a second home, you will be giving them a second chance at life.”

Numerous articles and books are available about adopting older animals. A bestselling book, “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts,” by TODAY.com writer Laura T. Coffey and photographer Lori Fusaro makes a powerful case in words and pictures why those interested in adding a dog to their families may want to choose a seasoned one with life experience.

“Older dogs who get adopted from shelters and find loving, permanent homes might be the most grateful dogs on the planet,” says Coffey. “It’s a great deal for us, too. When you adopt a dog over the age of about 6 or 7, you get to jump ahead to the very best part! Dogs in this age group tend to be calmer and are already house-trained, so they often make ideal pets for people with busy lives.”

Scores of senior-specific rescue groups and senior-specific adoption efforts at animal shelters are making it easier than ever for people to bring older animals home without breaking the bank. The “My Old Dog” book includes a comprehensive resource guide with contact information for senior dog rescue groups across the United States. Some foster-based groups cover senior cats and dogs’ veterinary bills and prescription food costs for life; others take care of all major veterinary work before putting animals up for adoption. “Seniors for Seniors” programs also are wonderful provisions offered by many shelters and rescue organizations. These programs match mellow older cats and dogs with older people, and they almost always waive adoption fees and cover all initial veterinary and grooming expenses. Many “Seniors for Seniors” programs also provide free welcome-home kits with food bowls, collars, food, medication, pet beds, and more.         

“Old friends are often the best friends,” says American Humane’s Dr. Ganzert. “Remember that the next time you want to add a wonderful new cat or dog to your family. You will be glad you did.”

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About American Humane
American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization, founded in 1877. To learn more visit at www.americanhumane.org today.

The decision to adopt an older pet can take on lifesaving importance, as many are overlooked by potential adopters. In fact, senior dogs have a 25 percent adoption rate compared to the 60 percent adoption rate of younger dogs, according to ASPCA. That’s why premium pet food brand Stella & Chewy’s is raising awareness around and encouraging senior pet adoptions, especially during National Adopt a Senior Pet Month.

What’s more, Stella & Chewy’s is partnering with Pilots To The Rescue to sponsor flights to bring senior pets into more adoptable cities to help them find their forever homes.  

Since the National Adopt a Senior Pet Month campaign’s inception in 2019, Stella & Chewy’s has helped more than 650 senior pets find their forever homes. The campaign is part of the brand’s Journey Home Fund program, which brings awareness to adult and senior pet adoption while ensuring shelter pets have best-in-class nutrition – especially during this holiday season.

In addition to the pets rescued through Stella & Chewy’s work with Pilots To The Rescue, there are thousands of senior dogs and cats in shelters across the country in need of homes. Senior pets can make a welcome addition to many families, as they are more attentive and learn quickly, have mastered house training basics, and have established personalities, behaviors, and sizes. 

Pet parents who adopt a senior shelter pet during the month of November can visit www.StellaandChewys.com/Adopt to submit adoption forms for fee reimbursement*.

Additionally, Stella & Chewy’s is providing these new pet parents with a $40 value voucher to redeem on any Stella & Chewy’s product that will allow these senior pets to thrive once in their new homes.

“I was inspired to start our company by my own rescue dogs, Stella and Chewy – so I know firsthand all of the joys pet adoption can bring,” said Marie Moody, founder of Stella & Chewy’s. “Stella & Chewy’s has long placed a focus on senior pet adoption, but this year we’re overjoyed to be taking things even further by not only eliminating the barrier of the cost of adoption but also making senior pets more accessible by our work with Pilots To The Rescue.”

To learn more about Stella & Chewy’s, and the importance of senior pet rescue, visit www.stellaandchewys.com/journeyhome or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

*Stella & Chewy’s will reimburse up to $80,000 in adoption fees during the month of November

Every responsible dog owner or pet parent knows that getting a dog is a life-long commitment. From the moment you open your heart and home to a loyal dog, you’re in it for the long haul, through sickness and health, ups and downs, good and bad, through snuggles on the couch to picking up the pieces of yet another pair of shredded shoes.

Responsible dog owners make decisions with their dog in mind. We don’t move to a new home without making sure the furkids are welcomed in the new community, we don’t spend frivolously without making sure the dog is cared for first, and, when times get tough, we’ll skip a meal so that the dog still gets his.

Unfortunately, not all dog owners are responsible. Close to 4 million dogs enter rescue shelters each year in the United States alone, with about 60% of these facing euthanasia. Shelters and animal rescues are busting at the seams as a direct result of irresponsible pet ownership.

Still, even responsible dog owners can sometimes find themselves searching for a good home for their beloved pet. Unexpected circumstances, illness, injury, death, global pandemic, economic collapse. Things happen.

Because our rescues and shelters are packed full, responsible pet owners have an increasingly tough time finding a good home for their pets and are turning to direct-to-consumer classified ads, like Craigslist or the local newspaper, thinking that they’re doing the right thing for their dog. Sometimes, a good samaritan finds a stray dog and, rather than call animal control and risk the dog being euthanized, will put up a classified ad to find a new home.

We visited Craigslist’s pet classified section and contacted several dog owners offering “free to a good home” dogs on the site with questions about their dogs, their reason for re-homing them, and their decision to use a classified ad for their precious dogs. Most advertisers ignored us, but a few responded. Here’s what we found:

A military family was deploying overseas and couldn’t take their pitbull-mix; a single mother was having another child and could no longer afford to care for her Catahoula-mix; another was re-homing his deceased father’s beloved Beagle. Though most of us would find ways to keep our dogs in each of these cases, none of them are particularly terrible reasons to re-home an animal.

All 3 were genuinely concerned for the well-being of their dogs and felt they were doing the right thing. All 3 listed their pets as “free to a good home” because they didn’t want to profit from a “sale” of their pet, but ultimately only wanted to find a loving home for the pets they cared for. All 3 respondents above claimed to have contacted shelters and/or rescue groups before using Craigslist but were denied any help due to overcrowding and felt they had no other options.

All 3 pulled or modified their ads when we explained what really happens to “free to a good home” pets.

So, what really happens to “free to a good home” dogs?

– Jeffrey Nally Jr. was charged with 29 counts of animal cruelty because of the massive number of dead animal found on his West Virginia property. Nally had obtained at least 29 animals through “free to a good home” Craigslist ads, just like the ones we responded to.

– Patricia Hervey of Texas, is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of animals at her Bexar County home. Hervey prowled Craigslist for “free” animals, claimed to run an animal shelter near San Antonio, took money from dog owners to use to re-home them, then shot and killed them, dumping their bodies in a lake behind her home.

– Dogfighting circles use free Craigslist dogs as “bait dogs” for training their own dogs to fight without risking injury, or they take in free dogs and train those to be fighters as well.

– Other groups, called “Bunchers” scour classifieds for free dogs, then sell them to laboratories for animal research and experimentation.

– And, sometimes, a free ad for re-homing a purebred, unaltered dog will result in the former family dog being picked up by a puppy mill breeder to spend the rest of her life as a caged, malnourished, unloved breeding machine.

The people looking specifically for “free to a good home” dogs will go to great lengths to appear legitimately interested in providing a perfect, loving home for the dog. They present themselves as well-to-do, responsible dog lovers. They often bring children along to meet the dog and owner to avoid suspicion. They will make up elaborate stories about previous pets, a perfect home and yard, and promise to provide a loving forever home to the helpless animal.

With these horror stories in mind, how could someone protect their dog while safely finding them a new home?

RELATED: Need Help With Pet Food or Vet Bills? There IS Help Available!

If, for some reason (and it better be a good one), you must re-home your pet, there are some steps you can take to ensure he goes to a good home. Pet-Abuse.com offers up some wonderful tips for pet owners facing this challenging dilemma.

• Don’t advertise “Free pet”
• Spay/neuter the animal to avoid attracting backyard breeders or puppy mill operators
• Charge at least $25 to discourage resale of pets to labs and others
• Ask each prospective owner for his/her veterinarian’s name as a reference and check it.
• Ask for identification in the form of a photo I.D. Write down the information, or scan/photocopy it if possible
• Ask for a phone number and explain that you’d like to check on how the animal’s doing. An honest person will gladly share the information with you.
• Have the person sign an “adoption” contract concerning your pet stating that they will not go to research. Having this in writing gives you legal recourse.
• Ask to visit the place where your pet will live before your release the pet to the new owner.

If a dog owner truly cares about the life and well-being of the dog being re-homed, taking the steps above to ensure he goes to a good home are worth the time and effort.

What should you do if you find a “free to a good home” dog classified ad?

Whenever possible, contact the dog’s owner and warn them of the dangers of giving away their dog for free. As we discovered, not everyone will listen. So, if the ad is on the internet, contact the site owner to request that they disallow the posting of ads for free animals on their site.

Bookmark this page and send the link to anyone trying to give away a free dog. These dogs are depending on us.

Aisha Nieves was scrolling through the Lehigh County Humane Society’s adoptable dogs when she saw a familiar face.

“I thought, ‘Wait, that can’t be him,’” Nieves told The Morning Call, referring to the dog she lost two years ago. “Then, I saw the little scar over one eye, the scar from when he got caught in a gate, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s my baby, that’s Kovu!’

Nieves had adopted Kovu in 2014 when he was only a 7-week old puppy. She and the tan pitbull-rottweiler mix were inseparable, spending every possible moment together until May of 2019 when a vehicle struck her fence and Kovu went missing. An exhaustive search for her missing dog turned up nothing.

Weeks later, the Lehigh Valley Humane Society picked up a stray dog found in an Allentown, Pennsylvania yard. Without a microchip or identification, shelter staff were unable to locate an owner.

“Our staff named him ‘Ash,’” LCHS director of development Deirdre Snyder said. “He needed to be treated for fleas, was missing hair on his hind end, and had inflammation. He was treated with antibiotics and bathed with a special medical shampoo. He was in our shelter for about four months and then adopted out to a family on October 25, 2019.

Shortly after, Nieves learned her dog had been found and already adopted. She thought she’d never see him again.

Then, on June 12 of this year, Ash’s adopters returned to the shelter. They were facing eviction from their home and had made the unfortunate but necessary decision to return the dog they’d adopted and loved for two years. He was in good health.

Only 6 days later, Nieves found herself searching for adoptable dogs at Lehigh Valley Humane Society.

“They had him under another name, ‘Ash.’ When I was sure it was him, I got so excited I was literally shaking. I called the Humane Society and told them ‘Ash’ is my dog, Kovu, who’s been missing for two years,” she said. “I told them, ‘I’m on my way to get him right now, what do I need to bring?’”

Nervous that the dog she hadn’t seen in two years wouldn’t remember her, Nieves waited at the shelter for him to be brought into the room. But her fears washed away the moment she and Kovu locked eyes.

“He was screaming, trying to get away from the guy holding him and run to me. Then, he just jumped on me and we started kissing and hugging. He sat on my lap. I told him, ‘Yeah, buddy, you’re going home. I’m so sorry this happened. Never again am I losing you.’”

“Now that he’s back home, I feel whole again,” she said. “All that time he was gone, I felt like a piece of me was missing. Never did I stop thinking about him or wondering if he was being treated well wherever he was. I’d look at Facebook pictures of us together and start crying. I just wanted my baby back. And now he is.”

Kovu is now microchipped, a simple procedure that could have reunited him with his family much sooner. Microchipping is inexpensive, easy, and one of the best ways to ensure a pet is returned to their family if they become lost.

On May 31, 2021, the Illinois State Senate passed a bill to shut down the puppy mill pipeline and end the retail sale of dogs and cats in pet stores across the state. With Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signature, the bill will become state law.

Once signed into law, all dogs and cats sold through retail stores across the state will need to be sourced from rescues, shelters, or humane societies instead of commercial breeders.

It’s hard to imagine when you see an adorable, healthy-looking puppy peering back at you through the glass of your local pet store, where that four-legged furball came from. The truth is, almost all puppies – 99% of them – sold in retail pet stores around the country are the product of puppy mills.

Puppy mills are essentially a factory for pumping out the most amount of puppies, in the shortest amount of time, with minimal expense. Meaning, the breeders that run these puppy mills have their females in a constant cycle of pregnancy and birth. The dogs are given almost no medical care. Living conditions are deplorable. These dogs are usually found crammed into tiny cages with other dogs, standing and sleeping in feces and urine, their hair matted, skin painfully itchy from fleas or ticks, starving and malnourished. Many dogs are suffering from respiratory infections, blindness, joint issues, even life-threatening illnesses that are passed on to their puppies. Sometimes, these poor dogs are left for weeks in cages with fellow dogs that have died.

But the puppy mill’s only concern is profit. They don’t care for the health of their breeding stock. They don’t care for the health of the puppies that are produced. They don’t care where their puppies end up – as long as they make a profit.

To help put an end to the inhumane treatment of animals by large-scale commercial puppy and kitten breeders, Illinois will join California, Maryland, Maine, and New York and hundreds of municipalities in banning the retail sale of dogs and cats at pet stores. (Note: The ruling in Maine only applies to new businesses, allowing those retailers already selling retail puppies and kittens to be “grandfathered in.”

The law, and others like it around the nation, is a huge step in the right direction toward eventually putting an end to commercial mass breeding operations, also known as puppy and kitten mills, and ultimately saving countless lives.

Would you support similar legislation in your own state? Weigh in with a comment below!

Clearly 2020 was a year like no other for everyone, including animal shelters. Many across the country were shut down completely or forced to change their operations early in the pandemic. Due to the unique circumstances of the year, comparing 2021 shelter intake numbers to 2020 alone isn’t an accurate indicator of pet surrenders/returns. However, in comparing 2021 to a pre-pandemic year of 2019, the numbers of pets being surrendered/returned are actually down at the 1,190 U.S. shelters and rescues that reported data, according to 24PetWatch. 

In April of this year, owner surrenders were up 82.6% vs. 2020, but still down 12.5% vs. 2019. Returns saw a similar increase: up 50% vs. 2020, but still 30% below 2019. 

Although national shelter data don’t yet seem to indicate a statistically significant number of animals coming into shelters as people go back to work, it is happening at some shelters around the country, according to anecdotal evidence and media reports. 

As a national leader in animal welfare, Best Friends Animal Society urges pet owners to prepare for lifestyle changes and make responsible choices as life slowly begins to return to some sort of normal. Now is the time to plan ahead and work through potential issues to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters. 

Pet owners need to work through possible separation anxiety issues, prepare pets for time alone, and look into hiring a dog walker or doggie daycare if pets can’t be alone all day. It was common to have pets and full-time jobs before the pandemic, so there’s no reason people going back to work can’t successfully keep their pets, with some adjustments and planning. Our pets have been there for us and provided companionship and comfort through an extremely difficult year, and we should honor the commitment we made to them through adoption. 

Before stay-at-home orders confined people to their homes last year, many would-be pet parents across the country may have felt they didn’t have the time or weren’t home enough to foster or adopt an animal. This changed over the past year, and according to the American Pet Products Association’s COVID pulse surveys, as of the end of 2020, more than 12 million households reported they had gotten a new pet as a result of the pandemic.  

“Many first-time fosters or adopters who have been working from home during the pandemic have realized how easy it is to care for a pet, and that they really do have time to have a pet around, even when they go back to work,” said Holly Sizemore, chief mission officer for Best Friends Animal Society. “By now people have undoubtedly discovered the secret reality of what dogs and cats really do all day. Whether there are people around or not, they mostly sleep, with a bit of eating and playing mixed in–all things that they can do just as easily without human companionship.  Plenty of people work full time jobs and provide loving homes to foster or adopted pets.”  

Whether the pet has been in the home for years or only recently, some might find that pets won’t like it much when their owners go back to work or school after these months at home. There may be an increase in the number of dogs and cats who show signs of separation anxiety or distress because they have become so used to having us around all the time. 

Dr. Erin Katribe, DVM, MS, Medical Director, Best Friends Animal Society, suggests knowing the signs of separation anxiety, and preparing for it before schedules change.  

Separation anxiety describes a condition in pets in which they are overly attached or dependent upon their owner.  When pets with separation anxiety are separated from their owners, they experience high levels of anxiety and distress; this often manifests as characteristic behaviors, such as barking or whining when you leave, scratching or chewing or other destructive behaviors, over-grooming or other self-harm, or a change in appetite.  

“Most pets don’t like sudden and abrupt changes. Instead, try starting now to get your pet ready and ease them back to your previously ‘normal’ routine more easily,” said Dr. Erin.  

To get dogs prepared for alone time, she suggests the following:  

• Create a safe, comfortable place where they can have peaceful, relaxing alone time. This could be a crate or separate room, just make sure it’s the quietest part of the house.  

• Provide them with enrichment that can be enjoyed independently, such as hidden treats in boxes, food puzzles, stuffed Kongs, etc.  

• Play soothing music such as reggae, smooth jazz, or classical, or play the TV or radio to stations like the BBC or NPR while you’re gone to keep them from being startled by outside noises. You can also try a white noise machine.  

• Reward your dog for calm, independent behavior, especially if they’re usually clingy. We tend to pay attention to dogs only when they’re active or even misbehaving. They should be rewarded for being calm and chill.  

• Practice leaving for short periods of time to run essential errands or go for a walk.  

An investment now in preparing pets for more alone time will help everyone adjust to changes in schedules and prevent shelter surrenders from becoming a trend. And it even might be a great time to consider adopting another furry friend to help keep lonely dogs or cats company. 

For more information and pet behavior tips, visit www.bestfriends.org.   

About Best Friends Animal Society 

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 625,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,200 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.