Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

EVERY month is “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month” at Rancho Coastal Humane Society 

Why did the American Humane Society decide in 1981 to officially celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month? To encourage dog adoption from local animal shelters and to dispel myths that some people believed about shelter pets. Here are three of the false beliefs that we still hear most often.

1. Don’t shelters only have mutts?

Nope. Shelters have dogs and cats of all types. You can find purebred pets as well as any kind of mixed breed you can imagine. Sometimes, you can breeds that are rare or unusual for your area. For example, when we’ve rescued dogs from hurricane and flood disasters in the south, it sounds very “houndy” in our kennels. No matter what you are looking for, you can find the perfect companion at a shelter.

2. Aren’t there only adult animals at the shelter?

You can find dogs and cats of all ages, from puppies and kittens to adults and seniors. Puppies are not for everyone. People often forget that puppies need training and socialization to become well-mannered adults. Adult and mature dogs sometimes come already trained and housebroken. Shelters have animals of all ages.

3. Don’t shelter animals have something wrong with them? 

Animals end up in shelters for many reasons. Usually, it’s through no fault of their own.
Some pets end up in shelters because they were a mismatch with their families or their

families did not anticipate the level of responsibility needed to care for them. Others are given up because their owners died or moved. Some were given up because their owners were no longer able physically or financially to care for them. Some were lost or abandoned.

At Rancho Coastal Humane Society, your adoption fee includes medical and behavior exams. Vaccines are up to date. Every pet is spayed or neutered before it leaves the shelter. Every pet has a microchip and that chip is registered. (A chip that isn’t registered is just worthless hardware.)

If this isn’t the right time for you to adopt a shelter dog, find out how you can volunteer or sponsor a pet until it is adopted.

For more information visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas, log on to www.sdpets.org, or call 760-753-6413.