Column: Overcrowded animal shelters hope a ‘help us’ alert boosts adoptions, donations

Eight-year-old Molly (A502542) is super friendly and affectionate with people and greets everyone with a big smile and tail wag! This affectionate pup has so much love to give! Molly is one of dozens of animals that will be looking for a new home during Pasadena Humane’s Free Adoption Day Event, sponsored by the Spence family and Petfinder Foundation, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. September 24. Adoption fees will be waived for all available dogs, cats and critters. Adoptions include spay or neuter, a microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines. No appointment necessary. Regular adoption screening applies.

A few weeks ago, several mixed breed puppies were abandoned under a 210 Freeway underpass in Altadena. The 3-month-old dogs were in horrible shape. They were infested with fleas, suffering from intestinal parasites and covered in cuts and abrasions. All were underweight and one of the puppies was emaciated and anemic.

Thankfully, the puppies were found by a good Samaritan who knew they needed urgent help. It’s impossible to imagine what these puppies experienced in their short lives. And while we can’t know why the puppies were abandoned or how they came to be neglected, I’m thankful they were rescued before things got worse.

Eight-year-old Molly (A502542) is super friendly and affectionate with people and greets everyone with a big smile and tail wag! This affectionate pup has so much love to give!Molly is one of dozens of animals that will be looking for a new home during Pasadena Humane’s Free Adoption Day Event, sponsored by the Spence family and Petfinder Foundation, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. September 24. Adoption fees will be waived for all available dogs, cats and critters. Adoptions include spay or neuter, a microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines. No appointment necessary. Regular adoption screening applies.

Saving the lives of animals like these puppies is truly a community effort. Like the selfless person who rushed these animals to the shelter for lifesaving care, we rely on community members to help make our neighborhoods better for animals.

This last week, a nationwide initiative called “Share the Care” was launched in support of animal shelters. Pasadena Humane has joined this campaign to highlight the influential impact people can have on animals in their community through even the most minor acts of kindness.

The “Share the Care” campaign illustrates the community’s critical role in creating positive outcomes for cats, dogs and other companion animals. Taking actions like adopting, fostering, volunteering, donating or even sharing adoptable animals on social media can help give needy animals a second chance at a beautiful life.

Here are some ways you can “Share the Care” with Pasadena Humane and help animals in need:

Adopt: Adopting a new family member from a shelter saves two animal lives! The one you have adopted and the one who will take that one’s place at the shelter. This is the most immediate and impactful way to help.

Foster: Temporarily opening your home to an animal allows the shelter more room to take in other animals in need. The dog or cat (or critter) that you’re fostering gets to adjust to living in a new home, making their transition to a forever home easier.

Donate: Pasadena Humane is a non-profit and we rely on donations to keep all our life-saving programs running. We also accept in-kind gifts like towels, unopened pet food, toys or items on our Amazon wish list.

Share on social media: Sharing an adoptable animal on your social media opens that animal to a new audience. One of your friends may be looking for a cat like the one you’ve shared. The more people who can see an animal and read its story, the better!

Volunteer: Volunteering at Pasadena Humane is an enriching experience. We have numerous opportunities for people to get involved, from interacting with the animals to helping with our events, pet photography, assisting in our administrative offices and so much more. We can use whatever talent you bring!

Support lost pets: Did you know that most lost pets tend to stay close to home? If you happen upon a lost dog or cat in your neighborhood, the odds are high that it is not far from home. Calling or texting the phone number on the tag, having the pet scanned for a microchip and posting photos of the found pet on your local Facebook and Nextdoor can help return that pet home quickly.

And please, help your own pets avoid a shelter stay by having them licensed, tagged and microchipped. That’s the best way to ensure pets are easily reunited with you if they become lost.

The nationwide “Share the Care campaign” continues for the next eight weeks. Check out our website for ideas on how to participate and #sharethecare at pasadenahumane.org/sharethecare

Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. 

This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on September 24, 2022.