Whether you’re looking for a furry companion or a dog to add to your family, all roads will lead you to dog shelters. Instead of buying one, many people nowadays prefer to adopt one from their local shelters, and we’re not complaining.
In case you don’t know, October marks Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, so if you are thinking of getting a dog for some time, now’s the perfect time to do it. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is celebrating this year’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month with actors Drew Barrymore and Dave Bautista, both animal advocates and fur parents. They have a mission to encourage their fans and other people to encourage and support the adoption of dogs in shelters.
Throughout the month, Barrymore and Bautista are expected to post ASPCA adoptable dogs on their social media accounts to help these dogs find a family and loving home. Aside from that, they will also get to promote The Rescue Effect campaign, which shows the impact of adopting a pet to shelters by creating a space to help other animals in need.
ASPCA reported that shelters around the country are reaching their capacity, with over 3.2 million dogs that entered last year. Unfortunately, only 2.2 million dogs were adopted. It has been a struggle for shelters since they only have limited resources, and many animals are in need. They are working overtime to help these animals find loving homes and care for them while they’re still at the shelters with growing medical and behavioral needs.
Matt Bershadker, CEO of ASPCA, extends his thankfulness to Barrymore and Bautista, who are proven to be compassionate ambassadors for dogs who are in shelters. Bershadker hopes that the two actors’ efforts will inspire the public to adopt a pet to help create more spaces for animals in need.
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Drew Barrymore’s Adopted Animals
You may have remembered Drew Barrymore’s rescue dog, Douglas, who recently made netizens laugh as he was seen biting actress Eva Mendes’ floral dress during her interview at “The Drew Barrymore Show.” Douglas is always present during Barrymore’s taping of her talk show, in which Douglas interacts with Barrymore’s guests and wanders around the studio while waiting for Barrymore to finish.
Ever since Barrymore has been known to support animal welfare causes. She is a pet mom to seven adopted animals: a dog, four cats, a bearded dragon, and a snake. Due to her lifelong animal welfare support, she was awarded the ASPCA Compassion Award. The award recognizes individuals belonging to the arts and entertainment industry who have made outstanding contributions to animal welfare.
Dave Bautista’s Rescue Dogs
Dave Bautista’s life may have circled around a career in acting and wrestling, but life also led him to a passion for animal advocacy. Bautista is known to be a dog lover who supports pet adoption and animal protection. He is a proud fur parent of four adopted pit bulls named Ollie, Maggie, Penny, and Talulah.
Bautista said that his rescue dogs have shown him why shelter pets need compassion and care. He said that they had changed his life like they had changed theirs when he decided to rehome them. By choosing to adopt, he not only gave them a second chance at life but also helped create more room in shelters for other stray animals where they would have a chance to get adopted by other families as well.
Now that you’ve learned of Barrymore and Bautista’s mission, you can heed their call by adopting a pet today. Check out ASPCA’s adoptable dogs in New York City or Columbus, Ohio. If you’re not around these areas, you can check with your local shelters.
Adopting a pet is a huge responsibility, so you must make sure that you are able to meet their needs and commit to doing so before deciding to adopt one. But if you’ve decided that you need more time, then you can choose to foster a pet through The Rescue Effect campaign.
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From The Club
I never knew that there was such a thing as Adopt a Shelter Month, and I’m all in it. I could just imagine shelter dogs who have been waiting for their owners to claim them, and it saddens me that they might have been waiting all their lives for nothing. It’s a good thing that personalities such as Drew Barrymore and Dave Bautista advocate for these shelter animals. Their influence can reach their fans and followers, which I think is the perfect use of celebrity engagement.