When a certain dog breed takes center stage in popular culture, chances are you’ll notice more of that breed around your city or town. Unfortunately, there’s another place you’ll find large numbers of fashionable breeds—your local shelter.
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What to Do With a Stray Dog
Meeting a stray dog brings you to a crossroads of sorts. The choices you make in the next few minutes, days, and weeks could be no less than life-changing—for you and the wayward furry fellow. In 2018, animal shelters, animal control agencies, and rescues in America took in 1.7 million stray animals, with a Return to Owner rate of only 37.1 percent…
Read MoreHow to Adopt a Rescue Dog: Expert Tips from The Petfinder Foundation
Emily Fromm, CDO of the Petfinder Foundation, shares a moment with a canine friend.
Photo courtesy Emily Fromm
We sat down with Emily Fromm, Chief Development Officer of The Petfinder Foundation, to ask her a question that’s simple enough at first glance but more complex once prospective . . .
Read MorePet Adoption Statistics: The Numbers Behind the Need
Each year millions of companion animals enter shelters. Hundreds of thousands are currently in need of homes. Here’s the good news: pet overpopulation has slowed dramatically since the 1970s, when it’s estimated American animal shelters euthanized between 12 and 20 million cats and dogs every year. Compare that to today, when only three to four million animals must be euthanized annually. And here’s another telling fact: in the 1970s there were 67 million pets in American homes, and today there are more than 135 million. In other words, we invite far more animals into our families these days and euthanize far fewer, perhaps suggesting a paradigm shift in how we think about animal stewardship.
Read MoreGuest Post: Save a life. Adopt a dog.
Sadie’s comfort level in her new surroundings helped seal the deal for Dave.
Several weeks ago, my wife, Brandi, took our cat to the vet to get his annual checkup and shots. While at the office, she met a woman who was fostering a Silver Lab named Sadie. Brandi. . .
Read MoreThe Benefits of Adopting a Senior Dog
Adopting a senior or adult dog delivers as many joys as adopting a puppy—along with some unique benefits. But senior dogs are frequently bypassed for younger dogs in rescue shelters because of common misconceptions about them, according to the ASPCA. If you’re considering adopting a dog with some miles under his paws, read on for a closer look at older dog adoptions, the special considerations to keep in mind, and the steps to adopting an adult or senior dog.
Read MoreAre You Ready for a Dog? A Guide for First-Time Dog Owners
A dog is a wonderful addition to a household, but everyone must be ready for the responsibility.
Photo by Carol, Cleveland
You love dogs and are contemplating taking the leap into dog ownership. We get it! Having a dog is truly one of life’s great joys. But caring for a dog full-time is also a serious . . .
Read MoreHow to Adopt a Shelter Dog
All of these dogs came from shelters and are beloved family members of Orvis associates.
Photos by Les Jorgensen
There is a common saying in animal rescue circles: when you adopt a “shelter dog,” you actually save two lives: the life of the dog you are adopting and the life of a dog who is then able to take . . .
Read MorePro Tips: Can You Rename a Dog?
When his family adopted him, they had no idea what his name was. Now it’s Pedey.
Photo by Phil Monahan
Renaming your dog is easy and you can do it at any age, young or old. She does not really care what you call her, whether a classic name or a more outdoorsy dog name—as long as she understands you are the source of all good things and that she belongs to you. And in some situations giving your pooch a new moniker is not only okay, but actually good for her.
Read MoreWhen Is It Time to Surrender Your Dog?
Samson, the giant Great Dane-Newfoundland crossbreed said to be Britain’sbiggest dog, needs surgery on his injured foot, but his owners are on fixed
incomes. Does this make them unfit to keep Samson?photo via the Daily mail
You want only the best for your best friend—always. But what happens when the best thing for your dog is parting ways with you? The choice to surrender a dog isn’t an easy one and should never be taken lightly. Often it’s heart-wrenching. But in certain circumstances, it’s the right call.
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