Adopt Don't Shop on Clear The Shelters Day!
Anyone that's following our lives on Instagram knows we've got an unhealthy obsession with our dog-son Fox, a 6 lb chihuahua. He's been by our side for so many experiences, like making a home, hiking in Sedona, touring vineyards in Paso Robles, and every night when he gets on our bed to attack us with his licks.
Fox is hard not to love. For the most part, he's dead silent and just wants to cuddle and sleep. When it comes to meeting new people, he may not be the warmest dog at first since he's a bit weary of strangers. But kinda like that mean girl in high school, his initial coldness really just makes you crave his affection, and then love him even more once he opens up to you. And he will! It's all part of his master plan.
When we first adopted him over three years ago, we had no clue what to expect. But, he's brought in so much light and happiness into our lives that we often have the, "omg imagine our lives if we didn't have Fox, how bleak" conversation. Which is a bit extreme, but we're a bit extreme. And he's really freaking lovely.
So, let's talk about Clear The Shelters Pet Adoption Campaign, and our partnership with Hill's Pet Nutrition. For more than 15 years, Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love™ program has supported shelter animals through ensuring they receive proper nutrition and placement in their forever homes. Now, to further support this, Hill's Pet Nutrition is sponsoring NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations’ Clear the Shelters, the largest single-day adoption event in the country, on August 18.
On August 18th, shelters across the nation will be offering waived or low-cost adoption fees in an effort to find loving homes for homeless pets. It's something we're passionate about, as having Fox be a part of our home has been legitimately life changing, and there are so many more pets who have just as much love to offer that are still being kept in shelters. You can learn more about how to get involved in this nation-wide adoption day by visiting the Hills Pet site where you'll also find a super helpful map of participating shelters nationwide.
OK so you're in, you're thinking about getting a dog of your own or you're thinking about thinking about getting a dog of your own. You've probably got questions like:
How do I pick the right dog?!
and
How do I know if I'm ready to adopt?!
Well, we aren't experts on finding the right dog. For us, Fox just gave us one sweet look that made us fall in love ... and any preference for breed, size, etc, melted away and we just wanted *him*. Maybe you'll have that same experience, or maybe you'll find exactly the type of dog you've always imagined. That's very personal and depends on you and the dogs you encounter when heading to your local shelter. So, maybe have an idea of what kind of dog would work for you and your lifestyle, but be open to being surprised.
As for knowing whether or not you're ready, that's a bit more cut and dry. You'll of course need to live somewhere that allows pets (you don't want to try and sneak a dog into a no-pets-allowed apartment building!), and somewhere that'll give you access to taking your new friend on walks.
It's important to make sure you'll have the funds for routine and emergency vet visits, including heart-worm and/or flea medication. You can even call your local vet and tell them you're considering adopting, and ask what they recommend in terms of annual visits and medication so you can get an idea of cost.
You'll also want to make sure you've got time in your schedule for daily walks and play. Dogs are social creatures, so making sure you've got some time each day to give them attention (whether it's playing fetch or just back scratches) is extremely important. And finally, read up on proper nutrition and human foods that can be toxic for dogs, just to make sure your new bffl is getting the best possible treatment.
Anyhow, we're going to go visit our local shelter, Louisiana SPCA, in celebration of Clear The Shelters day this Saturday, August 18. Make sure you follow along on Instagram to see it all! You can also check out other folks participating on social with the hashtags #ClearTheShelters and #HillsTransformingLives.
Happy adopting!
xoxo Beau & Matt & Fox