April 30 marks National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, an annual event dedicated to highlighting the countless animals in shelters hoping to find loving, permanent homes. Even if you're not ready to adopt, you can still make a difference by volunteering your time or making a donation to your local shelter.
Read on to learn about the impact--and the life-saving opportunities--adopting or fostering a shelter pet can give you.
Meet Cricket
If you are looking for a companion, the love and friendship found in a shelter pet creates a bond like no other.
"Cricket is an amazing girl! She’s a four year old Rat Terrier mix. She weighs about 15 pounds & comes up to my knee. She is house trained, crate trained & super smart. She loves toys & LOVES her people. She’s wary of strangers, but warms up after earning your trust," shares foster pet-parent Hayley Glisson Guilfoyle, who has fostered more than 75 dogs with Fixing the Boro.
"When people foster or adopt they're actually saving multiple lives, because they free up space in the shelter for another homeless dog or cat. It is so satisfying to see a shelter pet transform both physically and mentally," Guilfoyle added.
"I am passionate about fostering, because it gives them the opportunity to learn things such as manners, potty training, and most of all how to be loved."
Cricket is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped.
To learn more about Cricket, or to see other pets available for adoption and ways you can help, click here.
Sonic's story
Sonic is a prime example of the kind of transformation that is possible with a loving home environment. Sonic was going to be put down before Guilfoyle began fostering her.
"I fostered Sonic last summer for a couple of months and she went from being the crusty, shy, scared dog to the most loving, beautiful girl. My six year-old son got pretty attached to her and it was a great experience for him to see what love can do for a shelter pet. I'm happy to report Sonic is now living her best life in her forever home in Florida," Guilfoyle shared.
A whole lot of love
Jamie Lott, with 5 rescue dogs and 4 rescue cats, shares, "Adoption is important to us because we feel that it allows us to give back a fraction of what they give us."
"We even have a rescue goat and several rescued farm birds! Our three most recent are two Great Pyrenees from Fixing the Boro and a cat from the Humane Society," she shared.
Pet resources in Statesboro
Whether adopting, dontating, or volunteering as a foster pet parent, Bulloch County residents can make an impact--and feel the love--of shelter pets thanks to local organizations:
