Shelters Improving Adoption Strategies

Every month I run across interesting stories of shelters that are thinking outside the box to help get their dogs adopted. This week I ran across a shelter and resort letting guests walk the shelter dogs. A few weeks ago a business was providing funding to place life size cardboard cutouts of available shelter dogs in their furniture store. The video below features a NV shelter's "Hiking Buddies" program. I really enjoy seeing stories like these, and applaud those who are leveraging new strategies for improving adoption rates.

Some owners ask how I came to get my dogs, and I always say I pick dogs based on personality not looks. Both of our current dogs are from the shelter, and both were around 9-12 months of age when adopted. Getting dogs at this age means I can assess a mostly adult personality, and I look for dogs that are friendly with a desire to please. House training usually takes a few hours to a few days, and training begins immediately once they're in our home.

I understand many people want a specific breed for a variety of reasons, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. But whether you are planning to add a dog to your home, or whether you would otherwise like to help homeless pets, please remember your local shelter(s) in some manner. Donations of resources (money, food, supplies, time, etc.) can make a huge difference. I think you will find helping the pets in your own community particularly gratifying.