The History of National Animal Shelter Week
This week we celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week and we hope that more amazing dogs will get adopted and find forever-loving homes. National Animal shelter Week is a great opportunity to help raise awareness for the plight of animals in shelters and hopefully find them new homes!
In honor of this event, let’s explore some quick statistics on pet ownership and some unfortunate truths about animals in shelters.
Disturbing Statistics on Animal Neglect and Abuse
Did you know that one-quarter of all dog owners admit to abandoning their pets? Another interesting fact is that approximately 2.7 million cats enter animal shelters each year and a half are euthanized due to lack of space.
It is believed that there are 70 million dogs and 74 million cats in homes in the United States. That’s a lot of abandoned animals! These statistics are troubling and it makes you wonder how many pets are being abused and neglected by their owners? 70% of states have laws against animal cruelty, but sadly, it seems to have little effect on pet owners out there. If you suspect animal abuse contact your local authorities immediately.
Some experts estimate that as many as 10 percent of pets may be suffering from abuse or neglect.
The Importance of Animal Shelters
This celebratory week was brought by The Humane Society of the United States and it’s celebrated annually the first full week of November. This is a way to honor all animal shelters and the people who tirelessly work to ensure the animals are healthy and adopted.
Shelters are places where animals find safe haven and people have the opportunity to adopt their next loving family member. Besides this, shelters provide veterinary care, they spay and neuter the animals in order to reduce pet overpopulation and they fight animal cruelty and neglect.
Across the United States, there are around 3500 animal shelters that serve around 8 million homeless animals each year. Recent statistics show that 63% of the households in the United States include domestic animals, only 20% of those pets came from rescue shelters.
As we’ve seen in the past, animals are part of nature. When they escape or get loose, the most intelligent and adaptable ones tend to fare best. As a result, many wild animals have been able to survive in their natural environments over millennia outwitting starvation, predators, and other threats. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for all species.
Throughout history, animals have faced the threat of extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitat and pollution. Animal shelters have been set up by organizations such as PETA to protect these endangered animals and help bring them back from the brink.
The Significance of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is an important time to recognize the critical role that animal shelters play in our communities. Shelters provide a safe haven for animals who are lost, abandoned, or abused, and work tirelessly to ensure that these animals receive the care, love, and attention they need to thrive.
Animal shelters also play a crucial role in reducing pet overpopulation and promoting responsible pet ownership through education and outreach programs. They often work with local veterinarians and animal welfare organizations to provide low-cost spay and neuter services, vaccinations, and other preventive care measures to ensure that pets remain healthy and happy.
In addition to their role in caring for animals, shelters also provide important benefits to the community as a whole. They often serve as a resource for pet adoption and can help families find the perfect pet to bring into their homes. They also help to reduce the burden on local animal control agencies by providing a safe place for stray and unwanted animals to go.
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize the hard work, dedication, and compassion of the staff and volunteers who make these important services possible. By showing our support for animal shelters, we can help to ensure that they continue to provide a safe and loving environment for animals in need, and help to create a more humane society for all.
How to Get Involved in National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
If you like to get involved and help your local animal shelter then you can start by adopting your next pet from there 🙂 Follow the shelter on Facebook and help the animals find forever homes by sharing their posts. You can also volunteer. They always need an extra pair of loving and caring hands.
The best way to help animal shelters is by being a responsible pet owner that never gives up on their pet. Many pet owners abandon their pets and they end up in shelters. Educate your friends on how to be responsible pet owners and that a dog or a cat is a lifetime companion, not a toy.
If you can, donate supplies. They are always in a need of food, towels, toys, and other items.
Happy National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!
If you liked this article, read “National Adopt a Senior Pet Month” on our blog.