In the heart of Houston, tails are wagging with excitement as National Puppy Day brings forth a flurry of adoption and foster events. Cast those weekend plans aside and consider adding a furry companion to your life; the Houston-area shelters are making it all too tempting.
The Houston Humane Society is waiving adoption fees for puppies under a year old on March 23, giving Houstonians the paw-fect opportunity to rescue a pup in need. In an initiative to find these young canines loving homes, the shelter, located at 14700 Almeda Rd., opens its doors from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM, as detailed on their website.
Meanwhile, their cuddly counterparts at the BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions are not sitting out the celebration. With a "Pick Your Pet" event slated for March 24, prospective pet parents will find adoption fees slashed to just $13 through Saturday, aiming to surpass last year's success when over 100 animals found homes. "This event is also a great way to spread awareness about the shelter and highlight not only adoptions but our foster, rescue and volunteer programs and wellness services for existing pet owners, including low-cost Wellness Center and free spray/neuter program, Healthy Pets Healthy Streets," BARC's director of communications Cory Stottlemyer told the Houston Chronicle.
Not to be outdone, the Best Friends Animal Society and other organizations step up with a goal to curtail pet euthanization, eyeing an end to shelter animal killings by 2025. The need for more adoption awareness is dire, with Petfinder data indicating over 47,000 puppies nationwide in need of homes, according to a news release by the animal society. The largest contingents of adoptable pups can be found in big states like California and Texas. "Big, small, short or tall, now is a great time to open your home to a puppy from your local shelter or rescue group," Julie Castle, CEO of the animal society, encouraged in a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
For those dipping their toes into puppy parenthood, the Best Friends Animal Society showcases valuable tips to shepherd in happy, sociable dogs. "By spending the time to socialize and train your puppy, you are setting them up to become a well-behaved adult dog that will thrive in your home," Castle said, pointing out the importance of acclimating puppies to varied environments and assuring cautious interactions with other dogs until vaccinations are completed. These guidelines serve as stepping stones to foster a joyous and enduring bond between pups and their new families.
