October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society are coordinating efforts at shelters across the country to arrange free or reduced adoption fees for dogs over forty pounds.
“October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and right now big dogs are most at risk in shelters across the country, so Best Friends Animal Society is partnering with the shelters and asking them to waive or reduce their adoption fees,” said Michelle Sathe with Best Friends Animal Society.
Inflation could be one of the reasons people are choosing not to adopt bigger breed dogs since those canines typically cost more to care for than smaller breeds.
There is also a common misconception that bigger breed dogs are more dangerous than smaller breeds, but reports say that dog attacks tend to come from smaller dogs far more often.
Other common myths about big dogs: they don’t do well in apartments, they need a lot of exercise, they don’t get along with cats or kids, they don’t mix well with smaller dogs, you can’t snuggle with them on your lap, and they have more behavioral problems.
The truth is that every dog is different and common stereotypes about big dogs don’t always hold weight. Every dog, like every person, is wonderfully unique with different likes and needs. But all too often, people’s ideas about big dogs lead to larger shelter pups being more difficult to place in homes, and that means they’re more at risk if they end up in shelters.
But housing bigger breed dogs is just the beginning of Best Friends Animal Society’s ultimate goal. “Our goal is to end the killing of shelter pets by 2025,” adds Sathe.
So this month, show a big dog some love and #adoptdontshop! If you absolutely cannot take on a shelter dog, consider donating to or volunteering for your nearest animal shelter.
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