Celebrating Adopt-a-Dog Month in Atlanta

October is designated as Adopt-a-Dog Month. This initiative, established by the American Humane Society in 1981, aims to raise awareness about the millions of dogs in shelters across the United States who are waiting for loving homes. Each year, approximately 3 to 4 million animals find themselves in shelters, many of which are dogs that have been lost, abandoned, or rescued from neglectful situations. Today, I’m celebrating Adopt-a-Dog Month in Atlanta by featuring two local adoption events and sharing my own personal adoption stories.

Adopt-a-Dog: Save a Life

Olive on her third birthday

The love of a rescue dog is profound and transformative. When you adopt a dog, you are not just gaining a pet; you are saving a life. Rescued dogs often come with unique stories of resilience and loyalty, and they have an incredible capacity to bond with their new families. Many adopters report that their rescue dogs are some of the most loving and grateful companions they have ever had.

Adopt-a-Dog: Save More Lives

Adopting a dog also has broader implications for animal welfare. By choosing to rescue a dog, you help free up space in shelters and rescues for another animal in need. This cycle of adoption and rescue is crucial because it allows shelters to continue their mission of saving lives. Each adoption creates an opportunity for another dog to be rescued from the streets or abusive situations, thus contributing to a healthier community of pets.

Adopt-a-Dog: Save Money

Lucy & Olive

Adopting a shelter dog can be financially beneficial as well. Many shelters include initial vaccinations and spaying or neutering in their adoption fees, which can save new pet owners money compared to purchasing these services separately. Additionally, mixed-breed dogs often adopted from shelters tend to have fewer health issues due to their diverse gene pool.

If you’re looking to adopt a dog, check with local rescues and shelters that may be running Adopt-a-Dog Month promotions that may save you additional money on adoption fees.

If You Can’t Adopt-a-Dog: Support Animal Welfare

During National Adopt a Dog Month, various organizations encourage people to participate in activities that support shelter dogs. These include adopting, fostering, volunteering at local shelters, or even fundraising to help cover the costs of care for these animals. If adopting isn’t feasible for everyone, there are still many ways to contribute: donating supplies or funds can significantly impact local shelters and the animals they care for. Click here to learn more ways to celebrate Adopt-a-Dog Month.

If You Can’t Adopt-a-Dog: Animal Welfare Events in Atlanta

Beautiful Olive

Atlantic Station hosted Adoptoberfest on October 6th. This fun-filled event connected potential pet parents with local rescue dogs. Later this month, Atlanta Humane Society is hosting its Foster Feature Adoption Event on Oct. 26 from 1 to 5 PM. The event, held at the Atlanta Animal Center, is Halloween-themed and features adult dogs and puppies from foster homes all over the Atlanta area. They are coming into the shelter so potential adopters may meet them all in one place. Attendees even have a chance to speak with their foster parents before adopting to ensure that the pet is a good match for their family. No reservation is needed but you can learn more at the link above.

Adopt-a-Dog: More Than Just Shelter Dogs

Adopting from a shelter is fantastic because you can choose from a wide variety of dogs in search for a loving family. From large to small dogs and everything in between, adopters today can choose from pure bred dogs, mixes, puppies, older dogs, couch potatoes, and marathoners at the shelter. That said, adopting a dog can look a bit different than walking into a local shelter. Adopting can mean taking in a pet from a family that can no longer care for them or off the street. And, adopting can also mean fostering and “failing” in the process.

Adopt-a-Dog: My Adoption Story

My sweet Lucy

My sweet Olive was found by a Buckhead Pet Pals client near our office. She had no collar and was not chipped. Per her former owner, she ran out of the car at 2 AM somewhere nearby. I called him when I saw his lost dog post on social media and told him I had her. At first he planned to come pick her up but he changed his mind. He eventually told me he wanted me to keep her and, boy am I happy he did. We just celebrated her third birthday with lots of toys and snuggles. She’s the best girl and I’m thrilled she found her way to my family.

My other dog, Lucy, we got when she was 6 months old. Her parents were in their 90s and could not keep her. My daughter bought her with her own money and that sweet little Shih Tzu been a Centola ever since!

National Adopt-a-Dog Month serves as an important reminder of the joy and companionship that rescue dogs bring into our lives while highlighting the urgent need for more adoptions. By opening your heart and home to a shelter dog this October, you not only enrich your own life but also play a vital role in combating pet overpopulation and ensuring that more dogs find their forever homes.

Existing clients, please request dog walking and dog sitting services here. New clients, learn more about our onboarding process and scheduling software/app here. We welcome your questions and comments via phone at 404-303-0312 or email at office@buckheadpetpals.com.