Adopt shelter dogs
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October is Adopt-A-Shelter Dog month and Domestic Violence Awareness month. In the U.S. we celebrate so many events each month that to many folks the two may appear to be very different national events for October. In our society, they sadly have a deep connection and are all too frequently intertwined.
Research shows a direct link between animal abuse and domestic abuse (a majority of mass murderers abused animals in their formative years). Many women stay in a violent relationship because the one living thing that has shown unconditional love is the family pet and harm to them is threatened by the partner should they leave. Some dogs are surrendered to a shelter due to family violence because very few human shelters are able to accommodate pets, though this is slowly changing, which is great for both parties.
There are 3 to 4 million dogs living in shelters in our country that are highly adoptable and just patiently waiting for a loving family to find them. Is October the right time for you to search for that special addition to your home? There are a variety of pets ready to be adopted year-round, but during this month we focus on the needs of dogs in shelters. Whether your future dog is in Polson or elsewhere, giving one a home reduces the numbers in shelters and helps us move to a day when we see a great reduction in the number of homeless pets.
Shelter dogs come from many backgrounds and can be found in all shapes, colors and sizes – what they have in common is the need for a loving home that will give them a chance to learn, trust and grow into that wonderful companion you have been looking for.
If you can’t adopt, consider getting active another way – volunteer to walk dogs or spend time grooming one (talk about a stress-reliever), foster a dog until it finds a forever home (this can be very rewarding without the long-term commitment), sponsor a fundraising event for your local shelter or rescue group, spread the word and educate others about “opt to adopt, don’t shop.” For more ideas or to volunteer call Mission Valley Animal Shelter at (406) 883-5312.
