While watching CNN, like most folks were probably doing currently that have access to a TV or the online live feed, there was one commercial that caught my eye. As a pet owner most adopt a pet commercials from various organizations are saddening but not the Shelter Pet Project Campaign. Their commercials instead reminded future pet owners of the great quality of life a person has with a pet.
I quickly checked the site and what the Shelter Pet Project Campaign is all about. The Shelter Pet Project Campaign is a collaborative effort between two leading animal welfare groups, The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund, and the leading producer of public service advertising (PSA) campaigns, The Ad Council. Their goal is to make shelters the first place potential adopters turn when looking to get a new pet, ensuring that all healthy and treatable pets find loving homes. 
On their site in just 2 steps you are able to search for a specific pet type in your area to adopt. The site also has a “Start a Story About Your Adopted Pet” tool where you download and post with 5 simple steps. 
All you do is create a shareable graphic and then share it with the world using the hashtag #StartAStoryAdopt. Their posts are adorable and shows how happy new pet owners are that they chose to adopt.
Per the Shelter Pet Project site, over the next year 29 million people intend to bring a pet into their families. If fewer than 10 percent of them just 2.4 million choose to adopt, the Shelter Pet Project Campaign will save all the dogs and cats who currently enter shelters but don’t find homes! Sadly, dogs and cats who are taken into the care of shelters and rescue groups each year find themselves homeless through no fault of their own; “moving” and “landlord issues” are the top reasons people give up their pets. As a plus when adopting a cat or dog from a shelter or rescue you have not supported the cruel and exploitative puppy mill industry.
I strongly suggest if you are looking for a new pet for the New Year go to your local shelters first. There are so many abandoned pets during this time of year and the Shelter Pet Project Campaign site can help you find a pet to adopt. To get involved in the Shelter Pet Project Campaign, searching to adopt a pet in 2018 or for more information click here.
ABOUT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We’re there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty.
ABOUT THE MADDIE’S FUND
Maddie’s Fund (maddiesfund.org) is a family foundation founded in 1994 by Workday co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, they have awarded more than $153 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet adoptions across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie’s Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and comforted them during stressful business times when Dave was launching a start-up company. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl from 1987-1997 and continues to inspire them today.
ABOUT THE AD COUNCIL
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies. The Ad Council addresses issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families.
###
Source: Humane Society, AD Council, Maddie’s Fund, The Shelter Pet Project
