Shelter Pet Adoption

Overview

Pet adoption is on the rise since the campaign’s 2009 launch.  The percentage of dogs and cats who were adopted from shelters has risen from 27% to 29% in the last two years, and encouraging statistics show that euthanasia of shelter pets is down 10% since 2009. However, 2.7 million healthy and treatable pets are still losing their lives in shelters each year.

Bringing that number all the way to zero is the goal of “The Shelter Pet Project” campaign, which aims to encourage millions of pet lovers to make shelters the first choice and desired way for acquiring companion animals. The television, radio, print, outdoor and Web public service ads direct audiences to visit www.theshelterpetproject.org, where they are able to search for a pet from a local shelter or rescue group, read adoption success stories and learn valuable information about pet adoption.

The current phase of the campaign focuses on the bond that exists between a person and their shelter pet and encourages potential adopters to adopt from shelters by explaining that, “A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet.  Be that person.  Adopt.”