Fostering animals saves lives. In fact, if just two percent of pet-owning households in the United States fostered one pet each year, unnecessary euthanasia in shelters could end, according to Susanne Kogut, president of the Petco Foundation. It's a surprising statistic most folks are unaware of, and spreading awareness of this is one of the many goals of National Foster a Pet Month.

Every year on May 20, we honor National Rescue Dog Day to bring awareness to the amazing dogs living in shelters that eagerly anticipate the day they meet their new owners and leave for their forever homes.

On May 3 every year, National Specially-abled Pets Day sheds light on our precious pets with disabilities, from blindness to limb loss. Not only does it educate the public about the need to adopt these special pets from shelters, but it also highlights why they make such exceptional companions and the unique needs to consider when it comes to their care.

Americans celebrate National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day on April 30th to raise awareness about the millions of companion animals living in shelters while awaiting their forever homes. It’s a great day to add a new furry friend to your family or spend some time volunteering at a local animal shelter, too. Over the years, you’ve probably heard a lot of myths about shelter pets.

As humans, we think of losing a limb as a tragic, worst-case scenario type of event. The loss of an arm or leg is a traumatic experience that has a massive impact on daily life. However, it is not nearly as big a tragedy in the animal kingdom. As veterinarians, we’ve seen countless dogs and cats recover beautifully following limb amputations. With proper care, three-legged pets can live long, healthy, and, most importantly, happy lives.

Did you know that people are less likely to adopt black dogs from shelters because of their color? This phenomenon persists regardless of a particular dog’s breed, general behavior, size, personality, or age, and it results in far too many good dogs never finding their forever homes.

September 19-25, 2021, is Deaf Pet Awareness Week when owners of these special pets celebrate the lives of their faithful companions and the unique relationship they have. While deafness is considered a disability, it’s often overlooked since the pet isn’t struggling with mobility. However, deaf pets need to adapt to a different way of life, just as a dog with an amputated limb or a cat with a missing eye. Proper training and a devoted owner means a deaf dog can still live their best life.

One silver lining during this pandemic is how many people have been adopting dogs. In fact, one Chicago shelter recently declared themselves cleaned out of adoptable dogs for the first time ever. Doesn't that just bring a smile to your face? Some people, however, might agree that this time of home quarantine is an ideal period to adopt but they are hesitant due to certain negative things they've heard about shelter pets. As veterinarians, we've seen firsthand how the love of a shelter pet has changed lives for the better.