Column: Shelter pets are dreaming of ‘best day ever’ and you can help
Members of the 2025 Rose Court are pictured here with Pasadena Humane President and CEO Dia DuVernet (center) and adoptable dog, Kaylee. Earlier this week, the Rose Court visited the shelter to meet adoptable dogs, cats, and critters, bringing joy to the animals while they wait for their forever homes. During their visit, they also created enrichment toys to help keep the pets mentally and physically engaged during their shelter stay.
Earlier this week, we celebrated a huge win for the animals. Our Giving Tuesday campaign raised a record-breaking $500,000, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. These much-needed funds will go towards providing dedicated care and safe shelter for the thousands of pets and wild animals we take in each year.
We also had the honor of hosting the Rose Court, which this year includes one of our volunteers, Lisette Parker. The court visited animals throughout the shelter, spreading holiday cheer and making enrichment toys to brighten the pets’ days while they wait fortheir forever homes.
And this weekend, Santa Paws is coming to town! Attendees at our new, sold-out crafting workshop will make pet beds, toys and other presents for the shelter animals, while creating a small keepsake item to take home.
If you didn’t snag a spot this time, don’t worry — there are plenty of other ways to support our shelter pets this holiday season.
For one, our Shelter Shop is running a donation drive for stocking stuffers, collecting bully sticks for dogs and Churu treats for cats. These small gifts will make a big impact on Christmas Day, ensuring every animal in our care feels the joy of the season.
And if you’re shopping for your own pets, our Shelter Shop is fully stocked with toys, treats and other great finds. Every purchase supports the animals, so it’s a win-win for everyone on your list — furry or human!
If you need some help getting your pup trained for the holidays, we are offering special “Howliday Manners” workshops all month long. Dogs 4 months and older will practice polite greetings, mat relaxation and keeping all four paws on the floor, while also learning cues like “drop it.”
Of course, one of the most exciting parts of the season at Pasadena Humane is our participation in the Rose Parade. Volunteers have been busy decorating our “Welcome Home” float, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
The float celebrates pet adoption and the “best day ever” when pets are welcomed to their new homes. Each larger-than-life dog and cat depicted on the float in seeds, grasses and other natural materials represents a real-life pet adopted from PasadenaHumane.
We’re also thrilled to announce that three adoptable dogs will ride the float, following in the “pawprints” of Lua, the adorable pup from last year’s float.
Lua had been passed over by potential adopters in the shelter for months, but she was quickly adopted following her celebrity appearance in the parade.
After this year’s parade, we are leaping right into the new year with a “Welcome Home” adoption campaign, also sponsored by Hill’s. We’re one of just a handful of shelters across the country participating.
In fact, for the first time, we’ll even be open for adoptions on New Year’s Day! It’s the perfect way to start 2025 — by finding a new best friend to share the year with.
This season, I hope you’ll join us in spreading holiday cheer for the animals.
Whether it’s donating to our stocking stuffers drive, shopping at our Shelter Shop, signing up for an event, or simply tuning in to watch our float cruise down Colorado Boulevard on January 1, every act of kindness makes a difference.
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on December 6, 2024.
