asheville, Let Every Dog “Have His Day” This October!

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Let Every Dog “Have His Day” This October!

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) invites animal lovers to celebrate national “Adopt-a-Shelter Dog” Month this October by adopting a dog at their local animal shelter. While wonderful companion animals are available for adoption all year round, the ASPCA will place a special emphasis in October to urge potential pet parents to consider choosing from the millions of adoptable canines in shelters across the country.

“By celebrating October as ‘Adopt-A-Shelter Dog’ Month, we hope to give dogs the second chance they deserve at having a permanent, loving home,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “The ASPCA is offering dog lovers across the country activities and events to celebrate their love of dogs during this special month.”

In addition, the ASPCA is sponsoring a photo contest and survey for dog lovers nationwide. An entertaining and popular dog survey will be mailed to ASPCA members and subscribers. The third annual “Adopt-a-Shelter Dog” Month photo contest opens on October 1, in which canine “parents” are invited to submit favorite photos of their pooches. The theme for this year’s photo contest is “Best-Dressed Dog” and our guest judge is Frances R. Sheridan, writer and photographer of Unleashed: The Dog Runs of New York City (Prestel, 2005). Ten winners of the photo contest will receive an ASPCA Prize Pack filled with special goodies. For complete rules and photo submission instructions, please visit www.aspca.org/asdm.

Here are a few reasons to make pet adoption your first option:

Many shelters across the country offer free services as part of the adoption package such as training materials, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and even microchip implants;
Most animal shelters are staffed with adoption counselors who are in trained making compatible “matches” between pets and people, based on lifestyle and preferences. The ASPCA’s nationally-accredited Meet Your Match™. Canine-ality™. and Puppy-ality™. adoption program evaluates a dog’s behavior and interests and matches them to an adopter’s preferences so that they take home a pet they can really click with;
Most animal shelters screen incoming pets for major health and behavior issues;
Dogs at animal shelters are available in a wide range of ages, so they may be house-trained and past the mouthing and teething that comes with puppies; and
A large variety of pure and mixed breed dogs can be found in shelters, in all sizes, shapes and colors!

“Creating a good match between adopters and pets is the first and perhaps most important step to creating a long lasting bond,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, the ASPCA’s senior director of shelter behavior programs, and developer of ASPCA®’s Meet Your Match™. “Through Meet Your Match™. , we help adopters find the perfect pooch whether the dog is a laid-back ‘Couch Potato,’ or a happy-go-lucky ‘Goofball’ they know exactly what kind of dog they’re taking home. With so many dogs to choose from, we help adopters feel good about the dog they decide to give a forever home.”

Visit www.aspca.org/findashelter to find a shelter in your area and for more information on how to choose a great dog for your family, please visit www.aspca.org/adoptiontips or www.aspca.org/asdm.

(Images and story provided by ASPCA.)