National Homeless Animal Day

August 11, 2011 is “National Homeless Animal Day,” a day dedicated to raise awareness of the many animals (mainly dogs and cats) who do not have homes.
A great many animals born in this country never have a home, and wind up being destroyed out of sheer overpopulation of the area shelters. Many others are abandoned by people who are unable or unwilling to take care of them.
Thankfully, there are a couple of very good ways we as individuals can help the situation, and this is the time of year to become aware:
ADOPT A PET
This is the obvious answer to “How can I help?”. If you have perhaps lost a pet recently and are ready to adopt again, there is not a better time of year to do so.

Seemingly in anticipation of August 11, animal shelters around the country are already holding “pet adoption days” and “adopt-a-thons” to help generate interest.
(Philadelphia’s SPCA offered free pet adoptions the weekend of July 16-17; Phoenix will reduce adoption fees this weekend, July 30, at their “Empty the Shelter Adopt-a-Thon.”) Check with your local pet rescue clinic or animal shelter for similar promotions, or check one of the national pet location agencies such as petfinder.com or adoptapet.com.
HAVE YOUR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED
Unless you breed animals (and if you do, you should be doing so humanely and by correct standards), consider having your pet spayed or neutered.
At this point, one of the best ways to prevent animal homelessness is to reduce overpopulation. Be responsible for your pet, and prevent unwanted breeding, so more animals don’t wind up in the shelters. If you don’t spay or neuter your pet, be certain you can provide a good home for any births that occur as a result.
Our pets are a gift, and we need to help raise awareness of the plight of these animals. Do your part, not just in honor of August 11, but all year long.