Adopt a Shelter Pet Day falls at time of year when pet adoptions are slow, need is great
Portobello (A501556) is a super friendly 10-year-old pup with a playful side (squeaky toys, be warned!) and a sweet nature. Porto or Bello, as he’s affectionately known, loves the great outdoors—whether on a field trip with a volunteer or out in the community at a pop-up adoption event! He counts car rides, rolling in the grass, and hikes in the foothills among his favorite things. Portobello is available for adoption at Pasadena Humane.
While every day at Pasadena Humane could be considered “Adopt a Shelter Pet Day,” animal lovers officially celebrate this “holiday” on April 30. It’s a great reminder that shelters are full of amazing pets of all shapes, sizes and temperaments waiting to go home with a new family.
When you adopt, you save the life of a homeless pet while opening up space for another animal in need. You also help break the cycle of pet overpopulation and take a stand against puppy mills. Plus, most pets adopted from shelters and rescues are already spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines, a huge cost savings bonus for new pet parents.
If you are considering bringing a new pet into your life, now is the perfect moment to adopt from a shelter. It’s a time of the year when adoptions are slower. The holiday adoption rush has long passed, summer break with its promise of time off from school and work is just around the corner, and in-demand adoptable age kittens are starting to trickle in.
This lull in adoptions means that some of our great shelter pets have been waiting a while to find new homes. This is particularly true for many of our larger dogs. Big dogs have so much love to give but are often overlooked in favor of their smaller counterparts. Let me introduce you to a few:
Portobello (A501556) is a super friendly 10-year-old pup with a playful side (squeaky toys, be warned!) and a sweet nature. Porto or Bello, as he’s affectionately known, loves the great outdoors—whether on a field trip with a volunteer or out in the community at a pop-up adoption event! He counts car rides, rolling in the grass, and hikes in the foothills among his favorite things. Portobello is available for adoption at Pasadena Humane.
Portobello (A501556) is a super friendly 10-year-old pup with a playful side (squeaky toys, be warned!) and a sweet nature. Porto or Bello, as he’s affectionally known, loves the great outdoors — whether on a field trip with a volunteer or out in the community at a pop-up adoption event! He counts car rides, rolling in the grass and hikes in the foothills among his favorite things.
Minnie (A501199) is a smart, silly dog who shows off her “dance of joy” when she prances around with her toys! She’s a lovely and polite seven-year-old girl who is excited when she sees her favorite people. In fact, she’ll sit as close as possible to them to maximize opportunities for back scratches. Once you’re in Minnie’s inner circle, you’ll see her goofy, adorable personality start to show! Minnie is available for adoption from Pasadena Humane.
Minnie (A501199) is a smart, silly dog who shows off her “dance of joy” when she prances around with her toys! She’s a lovely and polite seven-year-old girl who is excited when she sees her favorite people. In fact, she’ll sit as close as possible to them to maximize opportunities for back scratches. Once you’re in Minnie’s inner circle, you’ll see her goofy, adorable personality start to show!
Lennox (A502363) is a happy-go-lucky boxer mix waiting for a new home. Dangle a leash in front of this three-year-old boy and you’ll see the look of pure joy on his face. He loves going for “walkies” and does quite well on a leash. He’s even enjoyed walking side by side with another large dog while out at a community adoption event. Lennox is available for adoption at Pasadena Humane.
Lennox (A502363) is a happy-go-lucky boxer mix waiting for a new home. Dangle a leash in front of this three-year-old boy and you’ll see the look of pure joy on his face. He loves going for “walkies” and does quite well on a leash. He’s even enjoyed walking side-by-side with another large dog while out at a community adoption event.
If you’d like to meet Portobello, Minnie, Lennox or any of the wonderful animals Pasadena Humane has available for adoption, head over to our website to set up an adoption appointment. Or stop by during visiting hurs to stroll through the kennels and view the pets.
Wondering why Pasadena Humane, along with many other shelters, has switched to an appointment-based model for adoptions? With adoption appointments, prospective new pet parents receive personalized service without the frustration of long lines and rushed adoptions. Plus, with fewer walk-through visitors in the kennels, the animals enjoy a quiet, less stressful environment, which has shown significant health and behavioral benefits. When pets are healthier and less stressed, they find new homes more quickly.
View pets and make an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org/adopt. If you don’t find the pet that is the right fit for you, please visit one of the many other shelters in the greater Los Angeles area. A shelter pet is waiting to be adopted by you.
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on April 29, 2022.
