shelter Archives

These 10 Incredible Transformations Show How Grooming Helps Dogs Get Adopted

A survey conducted by GreaterGood.org found that 97.8% of their 100+ shelter partners say that grooming is “very important” to dogs trying to get adopted. For this reason, Wahl, makers of grooming equipment, has partnered with GreaterGood.org for the last five years, helping over 70,000 animals find homes after a good grooming. “We’ve always had a soft spot for dogs in need,” Robyn Nowak for Wahl told iHeartDogs. “Wahl’s been making pet clippers for more than 50 years, and have donated … Read more

Shelter Worker Gets “Caught” Comforting Dog After Surgery

Imagine suddenly being taken from your home and brought to a strange place where you sleep on a concrete floor behind bars. You hear stressed and excited barking all day and night and watch as unfamiliar people walk back and forth outside your cell. Kind and empathetic shelter workers, like those at the Conway Area Humane Society in New Hampshire, know how terrifying this transition can be for dogs. That’s why this sweet video of animal lover Chrissy comforting pup Prissy has been … Read more

3 Simple DIY Pet Toys In Honor Of “Craft For Your Local Shelters” Day

Since 2012, pet lovers and crafters have come together to enrich the lives of shelter pets through National Craft For Your Local Shelters Day (July 21). On this day, people make beds, toys, clothes, “Adopt Me” bandannas, etc., to give to their local shelters. You don’t have to be a master crafter to help pets – the following three toys are sure to be a big hit at the shelter and are easy to make for a novice. Don’t worry if … Read more

This Shelter Is Using The “Pokemon Go” Craze To Recruit Volunteers–And It’s Working

Even if you don’t know what “Pokemon Go” is, you’ve probably heard about it recently. For those who need a brief synopsis: it’s a game that’s downloaded onto a smartphone. It syncs to the camera and Google Maps, and players try to “catch” the characters that appear on their phone screens. The game has quickly become popular, resulting in players wandering about town, trying to “catch them all”… and one shelter is taking advantage of these walking explorers! Muncie Animal Shelter in Indiana is … Read more

Amazing Shelter Workers Go Out Of Their Way To Help A Scared Dog In Need Of A Loving Home

Sebastian is a two year old Staffordshire Terrier mix who arrived at the Willamette Humane Society in Salem, Oregon on February 29th of this year. He was very scared, and was not handling the stress of shelter life well. “We realized on top of needing confidence building and working to build trust in a new environment, that he was also nervous of walking on floors that weren’t carpeted,” Rachel LeVitre, Shelter Manager, told iHeartDogs. “We tried to bring him in … Read more

400 Death-Row Pets To Be Flown To Safety Following The 4th Of July

We all know the Fourth of July can be a scary day for pets in the United States as we celebrate our nation’s birthday. It is also a day of huge intakes for shelters due to animals getting lost. This can end in tragedy for the pets already in the shelters. “Fireworks are legal in many communities in California,” Wings of Rescue logistics master Ric Browde told iHeartDogs. “Their detonation frightens pets, and those pets who are left unattended in … Read more

Man Hears That Pet Store Is Closing And Does Something Incredible For Animals In Need

Canadian Sean Squires heard that a local pet store was going out of business and decided to take full advantage of their closing sales–and all for a great cause. On Sunday morning, Squires walked into Petculture, located in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and bought out their entire supply of dog and cat food. That’s 570 bags and cans of food–all to be donated to local shelters. The generous bargain hunter scored $13,000 worth of pet food for a fraction of the cost, purchasing it for $3,000. … Read more

Former Stray Dog Now Fights Crime With Her Ability To Catch Child Predators

This shelter dog in Manatee County is proving to everyone how amazing shelter dogs can be if they’re given a chance. Her name is Gia, and she’s now one of the only 10 dogs in the world who can detect certain hidden electronics like hard drives, memory cards, and flash drives which may contain child pornography. Dogs like Gia are used by the police to catch pedophiles. Gia, our newest K9 deputy who will work in CAC; trained as computer K9 … Read more

This Man Was Afraid His Dog Wouldn’t Remember Him After 2 Years Apart…But Watch What Happens!

When Wisconsin native Jose of got word that the Winnebago County Animal Services of Illinois had found his long-lost dog, he was elated. “I was speechless and I couldn’t stop smiling. I just couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t get to the shelter fast enough,” he said in a story by ABC. Jose’s dog was stolen from him 2 years ago, by a friend of a friend who was dog-sitting for him. The pup held a special place in Jose’s heart. His life had hit … Read more

Shelter Posts Photo Booth Pictures Of Dogs; Adoption Rates Skyrocket!

Guinnevere Shuster became an internet sensation when she decided to help boost adoptions at the Humane Society of Utah, where she works as Social Media Coordinator and Photographer, by photographing adoptable dogs in photo booths. Adoption rates at the humane society skyrocketed. “The Humane Society of Utah (HSU) had a record-breaking year, adopting out 11,318 animals in 2015 and achieved a no-kill status as the largest open admissions shelter in the state,” Shuster told iHeartDogs. “While many programs contributed towards … Read more

Puppy Was Burned And Tossed From A Car, But She’s Still Got The Happiest Face You’ve Ever Seen!

In Sacramento, California, a 1-year-old German Shepherd puppy was found after suffering from third degree burns. “What it looks like is perhaps a hot liquid…it could’ve been just boiling hot water across the top of the dog’s back,” explained Gina Knepp, director at the Front Street Animal Shelter, in a KCRA 3 news story. Found by a passerby at a park, the woman realized the dog was injured and called the police. “We saw this dog weaving through traffic. It was … Read more

Senior Dog Dumped At Shelter Because She Was “Too Old”– Let’s Help Her Find A Home!

(Please scroll down for information on how to adopt Laci.) How anyone could give up a companion who’s dedicated her whole life to be a loyal family friend is beyond us. However, it does happen–but with by sharing their stories, we can help them find homes! Laci is a 13-year-old Shih Tzu who was surrendered to the Carson Animal Shelter on May 7th in Gardenia, California. Here was the pathetic excuse of a reason: she was “too old.” After living her entire life in … Read more

San Diego Chargers Host “Dog Draft” For Shelter Pups Needing A Forever “Team”

In a truly unique approach to boosting local area adoptions, The San Diego Chargers and Second Chance Dog Rescue joined forces to host the first “Chargers Dog Draft,” presented by Petco, on Saturday, April 30th at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers Dog Draft took place in section O-1, near the main entrance to the 2016 DraftFest. Chargers fans and dog lovers had a unique opportunity to provide a forever home to a rescue dog and over 3,000 people showed up for the free … Read more

Paralyzed Dog Left On Shelter Doorstep With A Heartbreaking Note

When staff members at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay arrived at the shelter’s doorstep, they found a heartbreaking scene: a small, scared dog huddled in her crate, with a pain-filled note asking them to care for her. It read: Please help my Genie. Genie (her name) is paralyzed from I believe her hips to her hind legs. I tried to manage her pain with medication from her vet but they only ease her pain and she needs surgery. I cannot … Read more

She Walked Into A Shelter Two Years After Losing Her Dog When Fate Stepped In

Two years ago, the Cromer family lost their beloved dog Buddy when a family member was watching him. The family, who now lives in Easley, South Carolina, was devastated. “We put posters up everywhere,” mom April Cromer told WHNS. The fact that Buddy had not been microchipped made the situation even more hopeless. For a year, they searched for their best friend, until dad Cory Cromer finally accepted that someone else had probably found Buddy, and kept him. “After about a year, I … Read more

Best Friends Animal Society Hosts “Senior” Prom For Adoptable Senior Pets!

With one eye and four legs, Brian Griffin isn’t your typical Prom King, but then you’ve never seen a prom like the one Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles is hosting. The “Senior” Prom will kick off Best Friends’ “Aged to Perfection” adoption promo, with no adoption fees on all pets seven years and older until the end of May. All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. “We wanted to find a fun way to invite adopters … Read more

This Shelter Dog Cowered For Days–Until One Little Boy Changed Everything

At a Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue in New Zealand, a sweet Pittie named Nala was saved from life off the streets. But from the moment she was rescued, she was terrified, cowering in her kennel in fear. For two days, shelter owner Abbie Van Der Plax sat on the floor near the cage, trying to coax the terrified pup out of her shell. But Nala stayed huddled by herself, trembling and growling. Then Abbie’s 7-year-old son Zach sat down near the cage, and something amazing happened. Barely skipping … Read more

Discussion: Are Some Shelters/Rescues Making It Too Hard To Adopt Pets?

It has become widely known that millions of dogs and cats get euthanized every year (about 7.6 million, to be specific) due to overcrowding in shelters. As movements and activists urge potential pet parents to “adopt don’t shop,” working to minimize the wasteful death of innocent animals, caring people everywhere have opted to find their furry friends at shelters and rescues rather than pet stores and breeders. Now that “rescuing” is a popular thing to do, animal shelters and rescues may have more say in choosing … Read more

Family Volunteers At Turkish Shelter And Make A Miracle Happen

Americans Mary and her daughters, Abby (17,) Anna (15,) and Alaina (11) live in Turkey and are animal lovers. They donated their time to the local animal shelter in Ankara; and what they saw there was shocking. Alaina was brought to tears. They saw “rows and rows of cages” with “20 dogs per cage.” Mary would bring 6 large bags of dog food and would be unable to feed more than 2 – 3 cages at a time. The dogs … Read more

This Organization Saves “Unadoptable” Dogs And Trains Them Into Crime Fighters

Maybe you’ve seen one before: a shelter dog with a wild streak, jumping, spinning, barking, and swirling around with as much energy as the Tasmanian Devil. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to find a home for these kind of dogs that are nearly unmanageable. However, these hyper hounds make the perfect candidates for Working Dogs For Conservation (WD4C), where their focused fixation and boundless energy are put to good use. Orbee is named after the Orbee ball – his personal favorite shown here – made … Read more

When You Buy This Book, A Shelter Dog Gets A Warm, Cozy Bed

FarmHouse Fresh®, a natural and organic skincare company, has parlayed its philanthropic animal rescue mission into an 18-page picture book that when purchased ($10 retail), donates $7 (all monies outside of printing and receiving in the books at the FHF warehouse) directly to the donation of dog beds for a waiting list of shelters and rescues around the country. In return for book purchases, the company turns customers’ personal selfies into “Certified Dog Bed Fairies” complete with wings and halos. The … Read more

Chained Outside For Most Of His Life, This Sweet Boy Has Spent The Last 3 Years Hoping For A Home

Stevie is a senior Beagle mix with a lot of love to give, despite spending the majority of his life alone and mistreated. He’s spent dozens of holidays neglected, alone, and for the past three years, in the shelter where he currently lives in South Carolina. Let’s make sure that this year he gets to celebrate the festivities with his new family! Share this story and together, we can help him finally find his forever home. Stevie doesn’t want to … Read more

When This Rescue Gets All Their Food Stolen, People Respond In An Amazing Way

On Sunday morning (March 20), staff members at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire walked into the pet food storage shed to find a disturbing sight–it was completely empty. About 65 bags of dry dog and cat food–which was about $700 worth–had been taken. This wiped out the shelter’s food pantry, which helps dog and cat owners who are elderly or struggling financially to feed their pets. Posted by Manchester Information on Sunday, March 20, 2016 “A staff person came in the morning and noticed that … Read more

These Littermates Reunite Every Year For A Dog Birthday Bash!

About two years ago, a golden-furred dog arrived at a shelter, pregnant with a litter of puppies. All of the puppies–along with mama pup, Sophie–were adopted into loving homes. The new pet parents ended up staying in touch, and get together every year to celebrate the puppies’ birthday! Reddit user skydart (aka actress/model/producer Chloe Dykstra) adopted the adorable Laika, and posted pictures of this year’s annual bash. “It’s the best day of my year,” says Chloe (aka skydart) on Imgur. Laika and Mom on their … Read more

These Kids Read To Shelter Dogs And The Benefits Are Amazing!

Books and bow wows–can it get any better? In St. Louis, the Humane Society of Missouri‘s Shelter Buddies Reading Program is building the confidence of both canines and kids. Young people from ages 6 to 15 can volunteer. They receive 10 hours of training to learn how to interact with the animals (under supervision, of course). The kids are also taught how to read important cues from their new furry friends, like how to tell if the pup is getting scared or … Read more

Pennsylvania SPCA Partners With Sato Dream Home To Save Strays In Puerto Rico

The plight of any stray dog is never good. But in Puerto Rico, it is especially grim. With spay/neuter not among the common practices in the area, there are thousands of stray dogs throughout the island. This causes an atmosphere where they are subject to neglect, cruelty and dumping practices, all which ultimately can lead to their death. Exacerbating the issue, the five Municipal Shelters in Puerto Rico share a euthanasia rate of 99%, with the vast majority of animals not … Read more

Touching Letter Found 5 Years Dog’s Surrender Leads To His Forever Home

Ten-year-old Roofus had been at the Bishop Animal Shelter in Bradenton, Florida for more than half his life when staff members were surprised to discover a piece of his history from their old friend’s former life. While sorting through his file, a letter was found from his original family, which must have been dropped off with the Weimaraner mix back in October 2010. It gave staff members a snapshot of the life he was forced to leave, almost six years back. … Read more

Dog Left Tied Outside In Freezing Temperatures Thanks His Rescuer With Kisses!

A picture posted on the Parsippany Police Department’s Facebook page shows a grateful Pit Bull giving a police officer a kiss from the backseat of his squad car. While most people are hunkered down in the midst of the historic blizzard that’s hit the east coast, one dog was left to fend for himself in the elements. Apparently the Pittie’s former owner decided that the late-January day, with the temperature and wind chill dipping far below freezing, was the best time to … Read more

Little Shelter Dog “Prays” For A New Home…And Gets It!

It seems that Oliver the two-year-old Chihuahua never lost faith when it came to finding a family during his time at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter in California. And lucky for him, photography hobbyist John Hwang caught the sweet pose on camera. “Every time I tried to get up and move away from the kennel, he’d [get] up on his hind legs and kept putting his paws together, as if he was begging me to help him,” Hwang told ABC News. http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/acc/our_animals/detail?animalID=A4910211Animal ID: … Read more

Recovering Rescue Dog Has Something To Smile About

Herbert the rescue pup is recovering from the dog flu in a lovely foster home, and that gives him something to smile about. This optimistic sweetheart is a five-month-old American Staffordshire mix, who poses like a pro for the camera. Having been rescued from a city shelter by PAWS Chicago–whose slogan is “Building No Kill Communities!”–no wonder this positive pooch can’t help but smile! In an article by ABC7 News, PAWS Chicago spokesperson Sarah McDonald said that it was evident Herbert was not cared for … Read more

Dying Dog Who Never Lived Inside Enjoyed His Final Days, Thanks To An Amazing Woman

Last year on December 13th, the owners of blind, feeble 14-year-old Blackie dropped him off at the Austin Animal Center, expecting him to be euthanized. They knew he was very sick, and he has a visible tumor on his chest, but they weren’t sure what specifically was ailing him because he’d never been to the vet. In fact, he’d never even been let indoors. Although the Austin Animal Center is the largest no-kill shelter in America, vets on staff considered helping Blackie over the … Read more