Helping Shelter Dogs During The Holidays And All Year Round
Wherever I travel, I visit the dogs. I’ve toured numerous humane societies, shelter facilities, and wolf rescue sanctuaries. In Beverly Hills, Rancho Santa Fe, and online worldwide, dog adoption is becoming not only the humanitarian but also the fashionable thing to do. Celebrities often have “pet projects”.
Why not start a new holiday family tradition by sharing the joy with a rescue group? It’s the perfect opportunity for pet lovers to give back to the animals-- adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate skills, equipment or money...whatever you can do is appreciated. You'll not only provide a much-needed service to our community, but it will fill your heart to overflowing.
My education as a dog trainer began as a local shelter volunteer while researching my master’s thesis. I cleaned kennels, trained hard-to-adopt dogs, and appeared in TV spots with ready-to-go dogs, showing off their innate ability to melt hearts. I fell in love again and again and again and again, and sometimes my heart got broken. The shelter experience shaped the development of my non-aversive training method and I promised to speak out for those who can't speak for themselves.
Animal Planet's smash hit show, It's Me or the Dog star, Victoria Stilwell is an outspoken advocate for the adoption of shelter dogs as a first choice. Dogs are often relinquished, orphaned, and abandoned when pet parents find their adolescent dog’s behavior unacceptable as a result of insufficient socialization and solid basic life skills training.
Today there are more dogs than ever in need of help with as many as 8 million deserving, orphaned pets looking for a family to love, and nearly 1/2 of those are euthanized each year due to shelter overcrowding.
Rancho Santa Fe's Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) has one of the world's most successful holiday pet adoption drives, Home 4 the Holidays. They partner with over 3,500 animal organizations in 21 countries. HWAC created a variety of fun, interactive online features for pet lovers’ websites and blogs.
The Helen Woodward Animal Center also provides free, 3-day seminars that teach shelter workers and animal lovers more effective ways to increase adoptions and lower euthanasia.
Animal Planet’s Petfinders.com, is the #1 facilitator for pet adoption posts for more than 13,574 animal shelters and rescue groups across North America. You can search for any breed or animal welfare group by zip code.
More than 25% of dogs at rescues are purebreds. You’ll find Bedlington Terriers, Borzoi, Bull Terriers, et al. There are 31 breeds to choose from that start with the letter B! Petfinders.com also provides spot-on, non-aversive training articles from the likes of Pat Miller, editor of the Whole Dog Journal, and the ASPCA.
Very importantly, if you plan to adopt, please take the time to do your research and look for the right dog to fit your particular family and lifestyle.
