The San Diego Humane Society has about 600 animals available for adoption at a reduced cost for those looking for a furry friend to chill with this summer.
The promotion is sponsored by Petfinder Foundation from June 24 through 26, costing future pet parents $20 for adult dogs and cats, and $5 for small pets.
“Adopting a pet is a life-changing and enriching experience,” said San Diego Humane Society Chief Operating Officer Jessica Des Lauriers. “Adopting a pet from a shelter not only saves an animal’s life but is also good for our own well-being. Research shows that owning a pet has many positive psychological and physical health benefits.”
According to the organization, all animals are assessed behaviorally and medically. The organization offers an adoption guarantee, training advice, pet supplies, and educational information to support pet families for the lifespan of the animal.
“You can contact our Behavior Helpline to get expert guidance about any behavior or training concerns,” the organization wrote in a press release. “By opening your home to adopt an animal, you’ll help create space in the shelter for other animals in need!”
Earlier this month, the Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in shelters, released newly collected data showing that for the first time in five years, U.S. shelter systems are seeing a setback in lifesaving.
In 2021, the number of dogs and cats killed in U.S. shelters increased from 347,000 to 355,000.
“Unfortunately, the setback in lifesaving is largely due to the historic decreases in pets entering shelters in 2020,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “As shelters began to reopen in 2021 in increasing numbers, so did the number of pets entering their facilities. Over the course of 2021, shelters saw an 8.1 percent increase in intake, and sadly, the number of pet adoptions could not keep pace with the increased intake.”
The animal welfare organization said the shift was even more dramatic for dogs than cats, as dog intake increased by nearly three times the rate of dog adoptions. Despite this, cats remain the most at-risk animals in shelters being killed at twice the rate of dogs.
Though intake went up by 8.1 percent, the number of dogs and cats killed increased by just 2.3 percent. The data shows that in 2021, Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama make up fifty percent of the overall number of dogs and cats killed.
San Diego Humane Society is open for walk-in adoptions Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at its campuses in Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside, and San Diego. To view animals currently available for adoption, visit sdhumane.org/adopt.
