Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day

Petfinder has named August 12 to be Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day, and for good reason. Thousands of pets are waiting for a loving home, but are passed over due to various reasons. The most common reason pets can’t find homes is age. A full thirty percent of homeless pets are considered “seniors”.

Pets with medical problems are also rarely adopted. Yet they too need love, and are less likely to find it than most others. Why do people want only adorable kittens? Why not get an adorable kitten, plus one medically needy or aged pet too? Why not commit an act of kindness? All kindness is surely rewarded.

While fifteen percent of unwanted pets have medical problems, another full thirteen percent are overlooked because of breed prejudice. I have been aware of the prejudice against black cats for a decade, ever since I found a black cat in a shelter who had been in a small cage for over six months, awaiting adoption. That day she became mine, and what a loving, precious pet she was.

Recently I found three kittens abandoned at the end of my driveway. We gave away the black and white one easily, but the two black kittens didn’t get adopted and prompted me to write Black Cats Need Love Too a few weeks ago. At this point the kittens, now named Mischief and Shadow, are pretty much at home with us and it looks like we’ve got ourselves new pets. Another black cat, Midnight, lives outdoors. He has only one eye due to his constant participation in cat fights. He was another stray and we suspect that the younger kittens are younger brothers from the same cat colony, wherever that may be. (I have my suspicions.)

This brings us to an important question: What can homeschoolers do to help less adoptable pets? Here are some ideas on things homeschoolers can do to raise awareness for less-adoptable pets in need of homes:

1. Create fliers or pamphlets and hand them out on August 12, and be prepared to tell people why special pets need loving adoptions.

2. Go visit pets at a shelter and ask which pets aren’t getting adopted. Take their pictures and write about them, then give your photos and articles to the local newspaper, or print them yourselves and hang them up as posters all over town.

3. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper about less adoptable pets.

4. Adopt a less adoptable pet!

5. Put Petfinder’s ‘Adopt a Senior Pet’ or ‘Adopt a Special Pet’ widget on your website.

6. Blog about less adoptable pets, or mention them on message boards you frequent.

Any other ideas? Leave a comment…