Dozens Of Furry Friends At Old Dominion Humane Society Looking For Homes During Adopt A Shelter Dog Month In October

Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) urges the community to look no further than shelters and rescues to find that next best friend during Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in October. Hanks (in photo) is described by ODHS volunteers as “having the time of his life at the rescue and thinks it’s so much fun to play with the other dogs.” He’s known to be incredibly gentle and sweet and always up for an adventure. Hanks is deaf and relies on visual cues and body language, but it doesn’t slow his happy spirit down. He’s a zoomie enthusiast and expresses his happiness with bursts of joy. Visit the ODHS website for more information about Hanks and to complete an Adoption Survey to schedule a meet-and-greet!

Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) urges individuals to look no further than shelters and rescues* to bring home a best friend during Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in October. As a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization, ODHS is a no-kill rescue that saves and cares for neglected, mistreated and surrendered canines until they’re matched with permanent homes. When people adopt one of the dozens of furry friends at ODHS, it makes room for more dogs to be saved by the volunteers.

Adopting dogs from rescues and shelters saves lives, and the benefits don’t stop there. It stops the cruelty that’s often found in commercial breeding facilities (puppy mills). Female dogs at puppy mills frequently spend their lives in unsanitary conditions in small cages as they produce litters of puppies. With barely time to recuperate after having a litter, the dogs are continuously made to breed. Lonely and scared, they aren’t given companionship or a human touch.

Purchasing a dog from a puppy mill is costly, but a canine from a rescue or shelter is only a small fraction of that cost.

“There are so many puppies, adult dogs and seniors available at ODHS, and all of them are waiting for caring families to bring them home,” said Chrissy Hamilton, ODHS founder. “ODHS has saved many dogs from hoarding and severe neglect situations this year alone, and they deserve a second chance to live happily. Some of the dogs just want to be held; others would love to go on hikes; and all of the dogs want the chance to be part of a family.”

Support ODHS this October for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month by:

• Rescue an older dog: While ODHS has plenty of puppies looking for homes, many senior dogs need a family. Most of these dogs are easy to care for, have already been potty trained and are familiar with living in a home—they have a small learning curve and require minimal training. When caring for an older dog, adopters find they give back tenfold in loyalty and companionship.

• Adopt a dog that’s disabled: Some of the rescue dogs at ODHS occasionally arrive blind, deaf and three-legged, and they amaze the volunteers who care for them. A foster cared for a 14-year-old blind and deaf dog who turned out to be “aging backward.” The family kept her on a routine, left furniture in the same places for familiarity and provided her with lots of love and attention. The dog thrived and was adopted by his forever family.

• Social media: Share stories, experiences and pictures of adopted dogs on social media, showing how resilient and loving rescue and shelter dogs are. It may encourage others to make room in their homes and hearts for a dog that needs a second chance.

• Become an ODHS foster: Fosters for dogs at ODHS are a lifeline to the organization. By fostering, the facility can save and bring in other dogs. Welcoming foster dogs into a family is a great way to teach children how to care for them and take responsibility for some of the chores. It also provides a chance for families to connect, because they’re providing a service together.

• Volunteer at ODHS: With the number of dogs and tasks at the facility, individuals will find their niche. Dogs need exercise and socialization, and walking or just spending time outside in the fenced-in areas with them is important. Cleaning kennels, doing laundry, being on hand for adoption events, taking dogs to offsite gatherings, filling peanut butter bones and every task in between helps.

ODHS is located at 3602 Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg. Adoption events are Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m., Fridays from 6-8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Application surveys in advance are preferred and take priority over walk-ins. For more information about the dogs available for adoption and adoption surveys, as well as sponsorships, upcoming events, volunteering, fostering and donating, visit https://www.olddominionhumanesociety.org.

*There are differences between shelters and rescues. According to Best Pet Facts, a shelter dog typically resides in a municipal or county-run animal facility. Often government-funded, they accept stray, abandoned or surrendered animals. Their mission is to provide temporary care for animals in need and facilitate adoptions. Rescues are usually private, non-profit organizations that rescue animals from a variety of situations, including being pulled from shelters to avoid euthanasia, surrendered by owners and saved from abusive and neglectful environments. They mostly operate through a system of foster homes, providing dogs individualized care, socialization and even basic training prior to adoption.