October is American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Dog Month®

Be a Hero and Find a New Best Friend at Your Local Animal Shelter

Take the Pledge to Adopt a Rescue or Shelter Dog Today!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are a million good reasons to consider adopting a dog during American Humane Association's yearly "Adopt-a-Dog Month®" in October – in fact, it's a lot more than that. Each year, 3-4 million animals waiting in shelters for someone to give them a safe, loving home never find a hero to adopt them and, tragically, are euthanized.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101108/DC97343LOGO)

If you're thinking about getting a dog, be a hero and consider adopting a rescue animal or a dog from your local shelter. You'll be saving a life and greatly improving yours. Dogs are amazing, supportive, and heroic companions who can make a huge difference in your world as a best friend, an exercise buddy, someone who can be trained to provide animal-assisted therapy and help those with challenges they may face, or simply be a fuzzy face to greet you after a hard day at work.

Your local shelter is the perfect place to find dogs of every type, size, age and personality -- all waiting for a loving home. Or if you prefer a particular breed that isn't currently available at a shelter, go online to find a legitimate breed-specific rescue group in need of adopters like you. In fact, why not help build momentum and spread the word by adding your name to our pledge to make your next pet a rescue or shelter animal and "like" us on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out what a shelter or rescue dog can bring to your life this October during Adopt-A-Dog Month. Here are some resources to get you started:

Adoption Center For Dog Adopters & Dog Owners 
Visit our virtual Adoption Center to learn about dog adoption, behavior and care.  
Shelters & Rescue Groups 
Get free resources to help you promote Adopt-A-Dog Month and increase dog adoptions.

Educators
Download our free lesson plans to teach your students about choosing a dog, caring for a dog, and pet identification.

American Humane Association established Adopt-A-Dog Month® in October 1981 as an annual event to encourage people to save lives and enhance their own lives by adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group. Thirty-two years later, that message is as strong, true and important as ever, as millions of dogs in shelters await adoption every year.

"If you haven't yet experienced that remarkable power of the human-animal bond, American Humane Association encourages you to consider adopting a dog and finding out just how life-changing it can be," says Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association. "With so many dogs in shelters all across our country available for adoption — and many of them never finding a safe, loving, forever home — adopting a dog will make you a hero, too."

Here are a variety of ways to celebrate Adopt-A-Dog Month:

Adopt from a shelter or rescue group
When you're ready to open your heart and home to a new best friend, adopt from your local animal shelter or rescue group. Talk with shelter staff to find the perfect dog for you and your lifestyle, and remember that older dogs make excellent pets too.

Spay or neuter your dog
One way to combat pet overpopulation is to have your dog spayed or neutered, thus preventing the possibility of unexpected, and potentially unwanted, puppies. Spayed and neutered animals have been shown to lead longer, healthier lives and have fewer of certain behavioral problems than animals who have not been spayed or neutered.

ID your pet
By putting identification on your dog, either in the form of a tag, a microchip or both, you will reduce the possibility that your pet will become one of the presumably "homeless" dogs that end up at your local shelter. Only 15-20 percent of dogs who enter a shelter are reunited with their owners. Make sure your dog is one of the fortunate few by outfitting him with proper identification! You may also consider checking out the Lost Petz app – an "Amber Alert" for pets – to help find your furry friends in case they get lost.

Support your local shelter
Show the pets at your local shelter or rescue group that you care by donating time, money or supplies like pet food, leashes, beds and toys. Call the shelter to see what supplies or services are needed most. Even the smallest effort can make a difference.

About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877 American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, disasters, abuse and neglect. Today they're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. For more information or to support their efforts, go to www.americanhumane.org or call 1-866-242-1877.

SOURCE American Humane Association