Today is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, which hopefully means a lot of our furry friends will find a new, loving home. The point of the event is to raise awareness for the thousands of pets that have been desperately waiting for somebody to take them in. A lot of these animals are yet to find out what it means to have a loving family, and it could be you and yours that shows them they are loved—what could be better than that?
Any time a family decides to take in a pet from a shelter is a beautiful thing, but perhaps today more animals will get adopted than on any other day. Adding a pet as a new edition to the family is a morale booster. It will provide endless smiles and laughs, but keep in mind the responsibility that goes with caring for a pet. If you are seriously considering adopting a pet, Metro Detroit provides a variety of animal shelters and rescues that allow you to do so.
One such shelter is Almost Home Animals, located at 25503 Clara Ln., in Southfield. The Shelter will bring students in from Detroit Country Day to help with the festivities. As usual, potential adopters must fill out an application either online or at the shelter. Here is a list of the adorable pets up for adoption. For more information about how to adopt, click here. The organization also has fostering opportunities and several fundraisers. Almost Home is a fantastic option, please donate online if you would like to help.
If you are in the downriver or southwest Detroit areas, consider contacting C.H.A.I.N.E.D. Inc. of Riverview. Although C.H.A.I.N.E.D., Inc. is not technically a rescue, it rescues dogs often. It will only have a few dogs up for adoption at a time, as most of the dogs the nonprofit takes in go to other approved rescues. The dogs it can’t find other rescues for are fostered at C.H.A.I.N.E.D., Inc., and then put up for adoption.
Its main mission is to set dogs free that are chained up 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nonprofit also has a fence project it works on to give dogs an opportunity to roam free. With that in mind, the organization is always happy to schedule meet and greets with potential suitors for the dogs it does have up for adoption. Other ways to help are by donating or volunteering.
Last Day Dog Rescue resides in Livonia and has many cats and dogs up for adoption. You can fill out applications online to either adopt or foster an animal, or download the printable application to fill out and bring in. In addition to today being National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Last Day Dog Rescue has many adoption events throughout the month. You can keep up with said events by viewing the events calendar. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities as well, and the 501(c)3 organization always welcomes donations.
Another option is the Detroit Dog Rescue in St. Clair Shores. DDR has several dogs available for adoption at the moment. The company was founded by Daniel “Hush” Carlisle and Monica Martino in order to save stray dogs left behind.
Again, donations are vital to keep an organization like this afloat. Donations can be made online. There are also three donation drop-off locations for supplies. Please, take a look at the DDR’s supply donation wish list.
One other upcoming event to keep in mind is the Detroit Zoo and Michigan Humane Society’s Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo. More than 30 local animal welfare organizations will bring in hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens looking to go to a loving home. The event takes place from Friday, May 15 through Saturday, May 16.
If you are a person who has seriously been contemplating pet adoption, now may be the time to go for it. Taking in a pet is a learning experience for both the pet and pet owner, but can make the biggest difference in both lives. If you can’t take on the responsibility, consider donating to or volunteering for the aforementioned organizations, or any of the others in the area. By adopting a pet, you are changing their lives for the better, and that is absolutely something to be proud of.