Dear Porky and Buddy,

I am thinking about adopting a pet for my family for the holidays, but I am told that some animal shelters don’t like to adopt out during the holidays.  Is that true for the Humane Society, and if so, why?

Sally

Dear Sally,

Thanks for thinking about adopting and for this very timely question. In the past many animal organizations discouraged pet adoption during the holiday season for fear that families make emotional decisions and the pets are returned after the new year begins. But here are the facts.

The Humane Society of the United States tells us that more families invite new pets into their homes during the holiday season than at any other time of year.  And nationwide, most shelters do not experience an increase in returns of adopted pets just after the holidays.  Most post holiday surrenders of new pets are for pets purchased from pet stores or puppy mills.

If you have promised the kids that they are getting a pet  for Christmas, and we turn you away, even though we would have been glad to have you adopt one of our pets at any other time, we may as well draw you a map showing you  how to get to the nearest pet store, backyard breeder, or puppy mill.

You WILL get a new pet.

You  just WON’T be getting it from the Humane Society.  The best thing we can do is help you  to make an informed decision and to match your family with the pet that fits your lifestyle and your home. If we remain dedicated to completing quality, lifelong adoptions (the same as we are the rest of the year) there is no reason for any of these pets to be returned. The Iams Home 4 the Holidays adoption campaign proves this year after year and that is why the Oswego County Humane Society is a part of it.  We need good  homes for our animals in foster care and if the Holiday season is a great time to find those homes then we can’t miss that opportunity.  The Iams Home for the Holidays Adoption campaign began 10 years ago as the idea of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in California.  It is now worldwide, involving more than 2500 organizations, and in the past ten years has found homes for more than two million pets!     This year we hope to reach our goal of a million new homes for pets, including many right here in Oswego County.

Our Home 4 the Holidays Adoption Day is November 15th, from 11 to 3 at the Oswego YMCA Armory in Oswego. You can meet many pets for adoption.  We will also have an open house where you can see our spay/neuter clinic and hear about our other programs, have some refreshments, buy some holiday reading at our book sale, and meet many of our staff and volunteers.  We hope to see you there.

The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County. Our office is located at 265 West First Street, Oswego, New York. Phone (315) 207-1070. Email: ochscontact@hotmail.com. Website: www.oswegohumane.org.

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