National Dog Adoption Month, an initiative run by dog adoption website DogsBlog.com and Butcher’s Pet Care runs throughout August normally but in 2010 is running throughout September and calling on anybody thinking about getting a new dog to seriously consider the benefits of adopting.
– More than 100,000 dogs await new owners in UK adoption shelters.
– Awareness campaign aims to show the great benefits of adopting a dog.
For many, the idea of adopting or ‘rescuing’ a dog carries with it a certain image. A notion of doing a good deed, taking on a problem dog or an ill treated animal with a multitude of behaviour and psychological issues is a common perception of dog adoption. The reality is very different.
Dogs end up in adoption shelters for a wide variety of reasons such as former owners no longer having the finances to keep a dog, ill health or death of previous owner or a major change of circumstance. Within the UK animal welfare system are literally tens of thousands of dogs who would – and indeed do – make superb, lifelong family pets. In fact, choosing a dog from a shelter has many advantages over and above buying a puppy. For one, new owners can often get a great appreciation of the dog’s personality, likes and dislikes. Secondly, adopting a dog enables owner to hone their selection criteria to ensure they are taking home the perfect dog for their lifestyle.
One of the major reasons why dogs actually end up in a shelter is because people often select the wrong dog for their particular lifestyle. Any dog adoption centre will work hard to avoid this happening so owners and dogs are very carefully matched.
National Dog Adoption Month is an initiative run in conjunction with the UK dog adoption website DogsBlog.com and Butcher’s Pet Care, manufacturers of healthy, natural nutrition for dogs.
One of the common reasons owners turn their dogs into shelters is because they are not prepared for dogs who get unsettled when being left alone. National Dog Adoption Month is as much about preventing more dogs going into shelters in avoidable circumstances as it is getting more dogs out of shelters and in to new, loving, permanent homes.
During the month, National Dog Adoption Month is promoting one very simple, very important message: ‘Dogs in rescue shelters are not damaged goods. They are normal, happy, fun filled dogs who simply need a new home with a new family’.
The campaign aims to completely dispel the myth that ‘rescue’ dogs need pity or sympathy. Or that dogs in shelters are somehow there due to problems in their makeup, physical or emotional. The national dog adoption website www.dogsblog.com shows, clearly, that adoption centres are full, literally to bursting point, with all manner of different dogs of different backgrounds of various personality types. National Dog Adoption Month aims to prove to all would-be dog owners that the dog of their dreams is in an adoption shelter somewhere. All they need to do is look.
Adopting a dog is a concept supported by a growing list of celebrities. UK artist Lilly Allen has previously adopted a dog from Battersea dogs home, George Michael, John Barrowman, Geri Haliwell and Drew Barrymore are just some of the stars who have also seen the great benefits to adopting a dog.
Throughout the month there will be a number of dog adoption success stories, local fund raisers/open days held by rescue shelters and various events designed to promote the benefit of adopting a dog.