Brandy and Val

YES!  We’re so excited that our Country’s Post Office has released a commemorative stamp advocating the adoption of shelter pets.  10 different stamps are available, each with a photograph of a former shelter animal, all of whom now have been adopted.  Products ranging from Pet Adoption Certificates to Pet Adoption notecards are available through the Post Office website and at your local post office.   Mugs, coasters and artwork are even available.

According to Postmaster General, John E. Potter,  “These stamps continue a Postal Service tradition of bringing attention to serious social issues of the day … one letter at a time…This campaign will increase public awareness about sheltered pets and our hope is that it will encourage pet adoption and promote humane and responsible pet care.”  Ellen DeGeneres, a long-time advocate of pet adoption and  avid promoter of pet adoption awareness has teamed up with the Postal Service and, in conjunction with her company Halo, has pledged to provide one million meals to sheltered animals.   Halo is a holistic pet-care company that Ms. DeGeneres co-owns.

We’re so happy that a cause that is so near and dear to our hearts is taking front and center stage.  Our mission is “to do good where good is needed” and since we are both former shelter dogs, we help animal shelters and sanctuaries with the sale of every one of our kids’ books and toys.

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never say it’s not quite as good has his mother’s

….ADOPT A DOG.

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour for as long and wherever you want,

….. ADOPT A DOG.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn’t care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies

….. ADOPT A DOG.

If you want someone who is content to get on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores,

……ADOPT A DOG.

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn’t care if you’re pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually,

….ADOPT A DOG.

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks oall over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his or her happiness,

….ADOPT A CAT.

Thanks to a recent study provided by The National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy here are some really interesting figures that shed light on the growing numbers of pets taken in by animal shelters:

1. The number of dogs and cats entering shelters each day is approx. 22,000
2. The number of dogs and cats adopted from shelters each day is approx. 11,000
3. The number of dogs and cats reclaimed by their owners each year is approx. 700,000
4. The percentage of dogs that are purebreds in shelters is 25%

So please consider adopting a pet from a shelter!  Most shelters will now work with families to ensure that the pet you take home fits in with your lifestyle.  And remember to spay or neuter your animal and help reduce these alarming statistics!

Here are the top 10 reasons animals are relinquished to shelters according to the study:

DOGS                                                                                        CATS

Before adopting ANY pet, do your homework and review the above list and see if any of these issues might pertain to you.  If they do, maybe putting off an adoption for a later date might be best.  Thanks for thinking through this responsibility before it’s too late.