Adopt your next pet -- you will be saving a life

When you are ready to add a new companion to your life, will you adopt a homeless pet?

Between three and four million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in animal shelters across the nation. But if more families looking for a pet this year would adopt their new furry friend from a shelter, we could put an end to this tragedy. That's why I am thrilled to tell you about The Humane Society of the United States' Adopt campaign.

Dear Reader, Skyler was living in a shelter in Florida when Claudia saw his picture online. He was one of many dogs at the shelter, and his chance at finding a happy home may have seemed slim. Claudia drove more than three hours one way to meet him. She knew that shelter animals make great pets, and she wasn't about to pass him by.


Every shelter dog and cat has a story to tell. As you read this, thousands of dogs and cats of all breeds, sizes, ages, and personalities are waiting for new homes, eager to start a new chapter in their lives.

With the help of animal lovers like Claudia -- and you -- we can spread the word about the benefits of adoption and work to end the senseless euthanasia of homeless pets. Did you know that one in four shelter dogs are purebred? Or that most animals in shelters are victims of circumstance, there only because of "people problems" like divorce, foreclosure, and change in lifestyle?

Adopt your next pet -- you will be saving a life -- then urge your friends, family, and loved ones to do the same.

Also, The HSUS is partnering with the Ad Council, Maddie's Fund, and many other animal welfare groups to launch The Shelter Pet Project in late September. This three-year collaborative effort is an unprecedented media campaign urging pet lovers to make shelter adoption their first choice when bringing companion animals into their homes.

Skyler was fortunate to find a home with Claudia -- but 50 percent of shelter pets are not as lucky. Somewhere in your town, a dog or cat sits in a cage waiting for a family that may never come. Help homeless animals find their forever homes by taking the first step: Pledge to adopt your next pet, and help us make a difference for all shelter pets.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

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