Column: Pasadena Humane’s holiday wish is for pets to go to loving and responsible homes
(Left) Jasmine (A512126) is a sweet 2-year-old bull terrier mix looking for her forever home! Jasmine came to us as a stray, so we don’t know much about her past. While in our care, she’s proved to be a friendly and active girl who greets new people with a wagging tail. (Middle) Daisy (A509973), a 9-year-old, is very friendly and happily greets people with her tail wagging a mile a minute. She would make a great companion for a senior looking for a senior. (Right) Rocky (A512026) is a handsome 3-year-old Belgian Malinois mix. He’s a goofy and silly boy who is also incredibly intelligent. He has lots of adorable puppy energy and loves playing with toys.
When I think of all the animals in the shelter this time of year, I hear Perry Como pining the words “Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays.”
This year, I also have a new tune in my head, “Feed the Love,” written by Los Angeles College of Music student, Ella Beyer. A recording of the song will be played New Year’s Day on our Rose Parade float of the same name, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Last Friday morning, Ella performed the song live at the shelter for a “parade” of large dogs to kick off our “Roses and Wet Noses” fee-waived adoptions for large dogs. The kick-off event was amazing!
One by one, adorable large dogs wearing collars adorned with roses were escorted by volunteers through the play yard in front of Ella, where each dog then received a “float” made of Hill’s kibble topped with whipped cream.
Later in the afternoon, the Rose Queen and Court stopped by the shelter to select their favorite cats, critters and dogs for fee-waived adoptions by placing a rose sticker on their kennel, which we followed by placing a rose icon on their profile photos on our website.
I can’t remember a more exciting day at the shelter! It was a fabulous celebration of our participation in the 135th Rose Parade and the reason for our participation…to promote the adoption of shelter pets at Pasadena Humane and throughout the world.
We’re happy and fortunate to have support from the community to help us find homes for more than 200 animals we have available for adoption this holiday season.
In addition to the Queen and Court picks, now through Dec. 31, our “Roses and Wet Noses” adoption promotion, sponsored by the Pet Care Foundation, offers fee-waived adoptions for all large dogs (40-pounds and up).
So “float” on over to Pasadena Humane and adopt your new best “bud.” We have a “parade” of pups ready to go home with you. I’d like to introduce you to a few.
Jasmine (A512126) is a sweet 2-year-old bull terrier mix looking for her forever home! Jasmine came to us as a stray, so we don’t know much about her past. While in our care, she’s proved to be a friendly and active girl who greets new people with a wagging tail. Could you be the one to give Jasmine the love and forever home she deserves?
Daisy (A509973), a 9-year-old, is very friendly and happily greets people with her tail wagging a mile a minute. She would make a great companion for a senior looking for a senior. Daisy is looking for a home with lots of comfortable places to rest with people who will dote on her like a princess. She thinks that’s not too much to ask!
Rocky (A512026) is a handsome 3-year-old Belgian Malinois mix. He’s a goofy and silly boy who is also incredibly intelligent. He has lots of adorable puppy energy and loves playing with toys. He recently went on a foster field trip where he was said to be very cuddly at home, well-behaved on a leash, and enjoyed exploring a local park.
I’m wishing you a holiday season full of the love, comfort and joy pets bring to our lives.
If you aren’t in a position to adopt right now, there are still many ways to help animals this holiday season. Consider fostering a pet, volunteering your time, or making a donation. To learn more, go to pasadenahumane.org/helpnow
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on December 22, 2023.
