Column: Your lifestyle is a key question during Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
(Left) Meet Lobo (A516709), one of the wiggliest dogs around! This sweet guy with the always-wagging tail makes fast friends with everyone he meets! Lobo is about one and a half years old, and full of energy and fun. He loves running around the yard and playing, but he finds time for snuggling as well. As happy as he is with meeting new people friends, Lobo also seems to like doggy friends, too. (Right) Princess Leia (A516999) is a 3-year-old pit bull mix who’s as sweet as she is playful. With a wagging tail, soft eyes, and a gentle disposition, she’s ready to win your heart with her affectionate personality. Whether she’s calmly walking by your side or cuddling up for belly rubs and head scratches, Leia is all about the love. She even leans in closer when the pets stop, just to remind you she’s ready for more!
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. And, boy, do we have a lot of wonderful adoptable dogs at our shelter right now.
There’s Princess Leia, a super sweet American bulldog mix found stray in San Marino. And one of my favorites, Lobo, an eager-to-please young shepherd mix who had a rough start in life and really needs a loving home.
Please stop by Pasadena Humane from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, to meet Princess Leia, Lobo, and other available pets at our final Free Adoption Day of the year. Adoption fees will be waived for all dogs, cats and critters,
You may be surprised to know, at Pasadena Humane we welcome adopters of all experience levels. In fact, many of our adopters are first-time pet owners.
I’ve heard stories of “the old days” when adopters were put through rigorous screening requirements. You will be happy to know those days are over. We now welcome all animal lovers and good Samaritans willing to open their hearts and homes to a shelter pet.
Rather than screening, we have a conversational approach to adoption. In other words, we try to be sure the pet you take home will be a good fit for your lifestyle. The decision on which pet to adopt is ultimately yours, but we want to help set you and your pet up for success.
You need to think about many things when adding a canine family member. Size, breed and temperament might be top of your mind, but there’s more to consider.
Our adoption counselors encourage you to ask yourself questions like: How often am I home? How much daily exercise can I provide? Does my new dog need to be kid-friendly? Am I looking for a travel companion?
Your living situation is important, too. A super active dog might benefit from having a yard in addition to daily walks. A calmer pup could make a great companion for an apartment dweller. Sadly, renters may face more breed and size restrictions than homeowners.
On average, dogs live for 12-15 years, and their needs vary depending on their life stage. Puppies require a lot of training and socialization. In contrast, senior pets have fewer exercise requirements, but they may have more medical needs.
Ivy Gonzalez, our adoptions coordinator, thinks adoption should always be your first option when bringing a new pet into your home.
“Adopting is a wonderful way to add a new friend to your family — it’s also a chance to give a dog a second chance at a happy life,” Ivy shares. “By choosing to adopt, you’re helping to reduce overpopulation and end unethical breeding practices.”
All adopted pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccines. Each adopter receives a sample bag of food from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, along with a slip lead. Additionally, we include a discount code for enrollment in a pet training class and a coupon for our Shelter Shop.
Our support doesn’t end once you sign your adoption contract. We welcome adopters to contact us anytime with questions or concerns. And, if for some reason an adoption does not work out, you can always bring the pet back to Pasadena Humane.
Of course, we ask you to please remember to be patient with your new pup and follow the 3-3-3 rule. Generally, it takes three days for your new dog to decompress, three weeks to learn a routine, and three months to feel at home.
If you are interested in taking advantage of our free adoption day this Saturday, you can view pets available for adoption at pasadenahumane.org/pets
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on October 11, 2024.
