Author: Adopt a Pet

By Julie Zeilinger

Manu Prats / Stocksy
September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month — a time for celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. So, what better time for us to elevate some of the incredible animal shelters and rescue organizations run by Hispanic and Latinx rescuers (who account for just under 20 percent of animal rescuers in the U.S.)? 

We’d love to introduce you to the following four Latinx- and/or Hispanic-run rescues and shelters that are making a difference across the country (and even beyond).

Arizona Animal Welfare League

Alessandra Navidad is the President and CEO of Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL), Arizona‘s largest and oldest no-kill shelter. Navidad was born to immigrant parents from Brazil and Argentina and was raised in Miami, Florida. The fluent Spanish and Portuguese speaker worked as a journalist and a veterinarian assistant before assuming her leadership role at AAWL.

AAWL rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs and cats who have been abandoned or surrendered by their families, primarily by rescuing them from other shelters in Maricopa County, where they are likely to be euthanized. The shelter can hold 140 cats and 190 dogs, but the organization also has a foster parent network of about 90 families who care for puppies and kittens too young to be adopted, those recovering from medical procedures, or those who need socialization before adoption. 

The organization runs the AWWL Community Clinic, a low-cost veterinary clinic, and monthly vaccine and microchip clinics. The AAWL also offers a program called “Bark Breaks,” through which AAWL brings puppies and kittens to local offices to energize local workplaces while supporting their lifesaving work, and runs dog training classes.

Compassion Without Borders

Moncho Camblor, a bilingual native of Mexico City, co-founded Compassion Without Borders (CWOB), a rescue that works to bring veterinary care, spay and neuter programs, and rescue to animals on both sides of the Mexican/United States border, in 2001. The organization has several programs in the Central Valley of California and Mexico. 

In the Central Valley, CWOB hosts monthly low-cost clinics for communities primarily composed of low-income Latino households who do not have access to spay/neuter or other veterinary services. The organization also offers a clinic in Mexico called Clinica Esperanza that provides free spay and neuter services to over 5,000 animals each year and provides nearly 2,000 free veterinary wellness visits. To date, CWOB has spayed or neutered over 12,500 dogs and cats in the U.S. and over 38,000 dogs and cats in Mexico.

Compassion Without Borders also has a rescue facility called Muttopia. Situated in Santa Rosa, California, Muttopia houses dogs rescued from impoverished communities in the U.S. and Mexico and gives them a place to recover medically and emotionally before they’re available for adoption. The organization has rescued over 3,000 dogs in the U.S. and over 5,300 internationally.

The Paw Mission

The Paw Mission is a non-profit organization that aims to help decrease shelter euthanasia through affordable, accessible veterinary care, compassionate animal sheltering, and empathetic humane education in Yucaipa, California. Executive director Jessica Lopez worked in the veterinary field for over 14 years, seven of which were with the largest non-profit veterinary organization in Los Angeles, where she helped successfully implement wellness clinics and vaccine clinics before founding Paw Mission. 

The Paw Mission helps animals in various ways, including special programs for neonatal kittens and unsocialized or feral cats (whom they call their “Rodent Ranger Cat Team“), as well as a foster program. They also provide a subsidized vaccine program and educate the public about spaying and neutering.

Not only does the Paw Mission help animals, though, but the organization also works with high-risk groups of children, teens, and adults in underserved areas. They provide these groups a safe haven with programs such as PAWS for a Difference, which partners with California’s Youth Camps to select up to 24 youth and 12 at-risk shelter dogs for each program cycle and involves participants readying their dogs for the Canine Good Citizen Certification. The organization also has a Humane Education school program that is dedicated to fostering knowledge of animal care among young people.

Family Dog Rescue

When Angela Padilla was 36 years old, she was diagnosed with an aggressive, high-risk case of breast cancer. A corporate lawyer by trade, Angela began volunteering at and fostering dogs through a shelter in San Francisco, which she credits with helping to save her life. In 2010, Angela founded Family Dog Rescue, which is devoted to saving homeless dogs no matter their breed, background, or disability. The Family Dog Rescue saves over 1,000 dogs per year and welcomes dogs from both California’s overcrowded municipal shelters and the streets of Mexico. The organization also sponsors the Loup Garou Animal Rescue, a rescue also founded in 2010 dedicated to saving black and dark-coated animals who are disproportionately euthanized in public shelters; runs a summer internship for teens; and runs a program called “Gatepath” which involves three to six differently abled adults volunteering at the organization’s Sonoma shelter twice a week.

Latinx Veterinary Medical Association

Another organization worth noting, The Latinx Veterinary Medical Association, founded by Yvette Huizar and Juan S. Orjuela in 2020, aims to improve Latinx representation in the field of veterinary medicine and vet-related professions. Though not an animal rescue organization, they highlight the work of Latinx veterinary professionals, many of whom partner with local rescue organizations and help promote bilingual veterinary practices to overcome barriers to enhancing animal welfare nationwide.

Julie Zeilinger is a NYC-based writer and editor whose writing has been published in Marie Claire, Vox, HuffPost, Forbes, and other publications. She is also the author of two books: College 101: A Girl’s Guide to Freshman Year (2014) and A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word (2012). She is the mom to Baloo, a two-year-old Bichpoo and foster mom to dogs via Badass Animal Rescue.

By Debra J. White

Courtesy Humane Society Silicon Valley
Animal shelters save homeless dogs and cats, fight cruelty, and educate the public about pet overpopulation. But shelters themselves are rarely eco-friendly. When many of them were built, energy efficiency wasn’t a priority, air circulation systems were poor and there was a reliance on toxic materials, especially for cleaning. The good news is that this trend is beginning to take a green turn, one animal shelter at a time. Here are a few eco-friendly green animal shelters.

Eco-friendly animal shelters

Find out how these innovative animal shelters are using eco-friendly methods to help save animals and combat climate change.

SPCA of Tompkins County

Among the early adopters is the SPCA of Tompkins County, which opened its upstate New York facility in 2004. Certified as the first green shelter in the country, Tompkins received a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This animal shelter boasts a cozy and bright atmosphere, thanks to its ample natural lighting and separate air systems. Additionally, the shelter utilizes a sizeable solar power system on its roof to further support its sustainable practices. They designed the building focusing on earth-friendly adaptations, creating an animal shelter that benefits both people and the planet.

Potter League for Animals

According to Pat Heller, director of development, Potter League for Animals in Middletown, R.I. opened its approximately 19,500-square-foot green shelter in 2009. Since they take in nearly 2,000 animals every year and also receive dogs from several animal control agencies, they can definitely use the space. The league’s shelter was LEED-certified at the gold level.

“Our building has many green features that will not only benefit the animals but the local environment as well,” says Heller. Because the area receives ample precipitation, the design firm, ARQ Architects of Kittery, Maine, incorporated an innovative water reuse system, a 15,000-gallon cistern to capture runoff that can be recycled for cleaning. Considering that shelters use thousands of gallons of water every month for this purpose, that’s a significant step forward.

Further, the parking lot is covered with a permeable surface to prevent runoff into nearby wetlands. “Rainwater gets polluted with gasoline and oil from the parking lot, then it drains into the wetlands. This will cut down on contamination,” Heller observes.

Other eco-friendly aspects include sensors that control the heating and ventilation systems, toxin-free paints and dual-pane windows for insulation. Heller adds that the shelter will also recycle or reuse as much of the construction waste as possible, which will help reduce the landfill burden.

Humane Society Silicon Valley

In California, the Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) has an innovative gold LEED Certified eco-shelter. Nancy Willis, VP of Strategic Growth in Marketing, says their shelter includes an efficient water-cleansing system, which reduces water consumption and ensures appropriate cleaning and disinfecting of kennels. When designing the shelter, HSSV also set its sights on reducing energy consumption. As part of their efforts, HSSV added Milpitas’s largest single-site solar installation, an advanced heat recovery system, and a reflective “cool” roof.

Additional green features designed into the community center by Moraga, Calif., architects George Miers & Associates include drought-resistant plants, dual-flush toilets, synthetic turf in the dog park and play areas, and passive heating/cooling. And simple, Earth-friendly ideas, such as using biodegradable cat litter and eco-sensitive janitorial products and recycling office products, are standard practice.

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control

Though LEED certification is a good thing to have, shelters don’t need it to go green. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control in Phoenix replaced one of its two aging facilities with eco-friendly shelters. Though the municipal shelter lacked the criteria for LEED certification, Linda Soto, former shelter division manager, says they still incorporated energy-efficient features. “The outer walls are constructed using a foam and concrete [material] that’s super-insulated. The roof is also coated for additional heat reduction.” That’s crucial in Phoenix, where daytime temperatures rise above 100 degrees for at least four months each year. The building is climate-controlled for maximum energy savings, and lighting in offices and restrooms is sensor-equipped.

A sample of other green shelters includes Canada’s Bow Valley SPCA, Michigan’s Humane Society of Huron Valley, California’s Sacramento County Animal Care, and Texas’s Dallas Animal Services. More shelters will no doubt be added to the list as cities begin to require that new private buildings meet environmentally appropriate standards.

Sustainable animal sheltering practices

When it comes to planning, going green requires a commitment not only of time and money but also, dedication to eco-friendly principles. James F. Owens, project manager with Boston’s Rauhaus Freedenfeld and Associates, says it’s more economical to start with something new rather than try to retrofit a project already underway.

Water reuse

For example, water reuse and/or reduction projects are good for the environment and can slice utility bills, but they have to be carefully planned. Owens notes, “Water must be properly filtered and cleaned in the animal areas, where infection can be a concern.” (For shelters that opt not to recycle water, Owens recommends high-pressure washers because they use fewer gallons per minute than traditional hoses.)

Air filtration

Air filtration designed to prevent the spread of disease, particularly upper respiratory varieties, is also crucial. According to Lucinda Schlaffer of ARQ Architects, the system should use 100 percent outside air and circulate 10 to 12 air changes per hour. It’s also true that such a system is costly to run, and most shelters operate on slim budgets.

Dr. Wendy Swift, veterinary medical director at the Kent County Humane Society in Grand Rapids, Mich., adds a caveat, noting that unless shelters also employ a disease prevention protocol, an air filtration system — no matter how advanced or eco-friendly — will be worthless. “Disease is spread from animal to animal and from human contact. An air filtration system alone will not save lives.”

Easy ways to make shelters more eco-friendly

When it comes to reducing our environmental footprint, every little bit helps. Even if a shelter has no immediate plans for a green building, they can still try these simple things:

• Recycle more: Shelters generate large amounts of recyclable material, including cans, newspapers, cardboard, and even cell phones and cell accessories.
• Start composting: Establish a compost program to prevent compostable materials from being sent to the landfill.
• Cleaning products: Use eco-friendly, pet-safe cleaning products for everything from laundry to floor cleaning.
• Pick sustainable supplies: Choose recycled papers, paper towels, and other sustainable products.
• Don’t skip the LED bulbs: Make the switch to energy-saving LED bulbs when it’s time to replace light bulbs.
• Install light sensors: Installing motion sensors in areas with low traffic and less activity can help reduce energy consumption.
• Choose water-wise landscaping: Use less water with native, drought-resistant, low-maintenance, pet-friendly plants, or add a pollinator garden.
• Make use of natural lights: Save energy and brighten moods by using natural lighting where possible.

Going green isn’t a fad — it’s a necessity, the only way to affect climate change, reduce pressure on overflowing landfills, and combat pollution. By doing as much as they can given their individual circumstances, shelters are helping animals and befriending the environment at the same time.

References

Shelters Go Green: LEED-Certified Facilities Care for Animals and the Earth

Combating Climate Change in Animal Shelters

Editorial: Reimagining animal sheltering: Support services and community-driven sheltering methods

Debra J. White is an award-winning freelance writer in Tempe. She serves on the board of the Phoenix Animal Care Coalition and volunteers with the Arizona Animal Welfare League and the Sierra Club. She lives with two rescued dogs.

By Claudia Kawczynska

bit24 / AdobeStock
For the past few years, Dr. Melanie Sartore, associate professor of kinesiology at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, N.C., has offered her ever-popular physical activity course, Fitness Walking Coursework. The class? Students help to walk shelter dogs at the local Pitt County Animal Services center as part of the class’s shape-up program.

A shelter pup-inspired course

As an avid dog lover and a frequent “failed” fosterer who has five dogs of her own (four adopted from the Pitt County shelter), she is well aware of the myriad of benefits dogs provide humans, including increasing our physical activity levels. She’s also aware of the needs of dogs in the community’s shelter, who are there, she noted, not because of any failure on their part, but “because humans have failed the dogs.”

Five years ago, Sartore and her department chair, Dr. Stacey Altman, who is also a dog lover, came up with a way to correct that misperception while giving back to the community. They approached the shelter’s director, Michele Whaley, with the idea of creating a service-learning fitness walking course whose unconventional classroom would include the small, underfunded shelter and the nearby county park and its ample walking trail. Students in this course, limited to 10 per term, would help provide much-needed exercise for the shelter’s dogs while expanding their knowledge of companion animals; as a plus, the course would also give a special nod to caring for and about shelter animals.

The class is offered year-round, and even during the breaks, Sartore, who says she hates leaving the dogs without walks, finds volunteers to take them out. One of her goals is to get all the dogs on the adoption floor — from four to 17 or more — walked during each visit.

Creating new animal advocates

Another aspect of the curriculum’s goal was to “empower students to become active citizens within their community” and to understand the “plight of shelter dogs and become advocates not just for the animals but for programs that foster responsible pet parenthood, including the need for spaying and neutering and the problems caused by pet overpopulation” — an especially pressing matter for southern shelters.

Whaley’s first reaction to this idea? As she told us, “I was thrilled for a number of reasons. One being I knew we didn’t have the proper staffing levels to give the dogs the enrichment and physical activity they most desperately needed.” She added, “I am also an alumna from ECU, so my alma mater holds a special place for me. I felt like this was a win-win for everyone — a great new partnership with our local university [and] exercise for both the dogs and the students; each class gives us a whole new set of advocates for the animals at our shelter.”

Benefits of the shelter dog walking program

She also observed that she has seen the positive impact this course has had on the dogs — they “don’t seem to break down as often or as quickly, especially the ones that don’t get adopted quickly and are in the shelter for longer periods of time.” The regular exercise provided during the course helps:

• Stimulate the dogs mentally
• Improve their overall health
• Reduce the susceptibility to illness, especially stress-induced ones
• Improve shelter adoption rates

Plus, the students themselves rally to the cause, and, with their social-media savvy, have helped favorite dogs find homes. Sartore proudly told us that recently, one of her graduate students, who had moved out of the area, came back to the Pitt County shelter to adopt a dog.

How shelter dog walking helps students:

As for the students themselves, they average a whopping 2.23 miles per walking session, or 40 percent of their recommended daily physical activity level. In the beginning, each dog is handled by two students using a double leash (especially useful when walking the stronger dogs, some of whom might never have walked on a leash before). It doesn’t take long for both students and dogs to pick up on the correct protocol; some students prefer to run, not walk, with the dogs. Each dog gets in at least a mile of walking.

Changing negative stereotypes

As it is in most shelters, many of the dogs are Pit Bulls, and while some students might come into the class with negative stereotypic views around this breed — Sartore herself admits that she at first did as well — she says she now thinks they can be the sweetest of dogs, as do the students.

Learning dog body language

A sense of humor is one of the class’s criteria, because dogs, after all, have a way of tickling our funny bone. Or, as Sartore says, she “tells them to expect that you might be peed on at least once, so you gotta be able to laugh it off.” They also learn to interpret dog body language and behavior, plus physical fitness and are quizzed on those subjects. This gives the students a much better ability to read a dog, which is fantastic.

Giving second chances

The very popular for-credit class has a long waiting list, and at the end, each student is required to submit a reflection paper. According to these papers, the students’ biggest takeaway has been the importance of giving dogs a second chance; many also express a desire to adopt a shelter dog in the future.

Walking with a dog is the cheapest and most accessible way to become physically active. So, spread the word to other colleges and universities and maybe we’ll just have more of these programs around the country.

Claudia Kawczynska was co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Bark.

By Mollie Jackman

Demetr White / Stocksy
We’re all pet people here, so it’s time to let you in on a little secret: Sometimes, shelter volunteers, staff, and foster parents care so much for their temporary residents, that they only see the best in them. This can be great for shelter pets, who all deserve to be adored, but can also lead to unfortunate misunderstandings, such as pet parents deciding to adopt based on the shelter’s description of a “young, energetic and loyal dog,” but coming home to realize that they need to help address their new pup’s specific challenge of generalized anxiety or separation anxiety.

While it’s understandable that shelter staff wants to put every pet’s best paw forward, it can ultimately result in adopters bringing home pets they aren’t prepared for, which doesn’t benefit anybody. To avoid that, here are some tips and tricks for decoding “shelter speak” and preparing for what those cute descriptions could really mean when applied to everyday life with your new pet.

What common shelter attributes really mean

Let’s get started with a few of the most common attributes listed on shelter placards and online pet profile descriptions and what they might actually indicate. We spoke with Jennen Herbst, Fear Free certified dog trainer, American Kennel Club (AKC) evaluator, and dog bite prevention educator, to get her take on the most commonly misleading pet descriptions at shelters.

To be clear, none of these descriptions should prevent you from adopting a pet, nor do they necessarily mean the below. These are common terms that could have a somewhat hidden meaning that adopters should be aware of so they can best care for the dog they bring home. Here are Herbst’s interpretations:

• “Selective” could indicate behavioral problems, such as reactivity and resource guarding.
• “Nervous” can be an understatement of more serious issues, including extreme fear or anxiety.
• “Strong-willed” is often used to describe a pet who needs a parent who is willing to put a lot of time into training; they could just take more time to train.
• “High-maintenance” can describe a pet who may need a lot of grooming, mental enrichment, or even medication for special needs.
• “Enthusiastic” can indicate a high-energy pet who needs a job or a lot of stimulation. These pets may be best suited to homes without very young children or elderly people.
• “Intense” pets may have trouble interacting with people and/or other animals. They may lack boundaries or display more serious behavioral issues.
• “Queen/King” is often used as a descriptor for a pet who’s not a great contender for living with other animals (or often small children).
• “Lap-Dogs/Lap-Cats” can be attention-seeking and have high needs.
• “Trainable” pets sound pretty perfect but can indicate a high level of intelligence and drive to solve problems/challenges — which means they’ll need you to devote time to training or providing mental enrichment.
• “Loyal” is another commonly used word to describe dogs in particular, but it can sometimes indicate a pet may be protective of their family members or even possessions. This is just another thing to be aware of and work on in training.

Another phrase Herbst mentions is worth looking out for is “altercation.” This is an important one to take seriously, she says, because “altercation may make it seem like the dog was not in anything big, but [the shelter] could be avoiding giving all the information on how serious it was.”

Again, none of this is to deter adopters from giving these pets good, loving homes but rather to give them all the information they need to give them the kind of home and attention they need to succeed.

Asking questions is critical

Getting as much information as possible beyond the short descriptions shelter volunteers and staff write makes it more likely that your adoption will be successful, and shelter staff want that, too.

“Research, research, research,” Herbst says regarding her tips on selecting a pet to bring home. “Ask all of the questions; you can never ask too many.”

Herbst suggests asking about the following topics:

• The pet’s history or how they came to the shelter or rescue
• Their behavior in previous homes
• Any medical issues they may have
• Altercations the pet has been involved in
• Guarding behaviors
• Behavior around older people and/or kids
• Behavior around men vs. women
• Exercise and mental stimulation needs
• Any breed information available

If the shelter knows what breeds the pet you’re interested in may be, Herbst recommends researching those breeds to learn about their characteristics, typical mental and physical needs, potential health issues, and problem behaviors. Keep in mind that not every pet of a certain breed shares every characteristic, especially in mixed breeds, but it can’t hurt to have all the information ready.

The pros of “shelter speak”

While those quippy little descriptions of adoptable pets may not always be the most upfront about a pet’s potential issues, they often help bring adopters in the door to at least meet the pets. “If only extremes are shown in bios, no one would ever show interest,” Herbst says.

No pet is perfect, just like no pet parent is perfect. It often takes meeting a pet in person for a potential adopter to understand how that pet could make a great addition to their family despite their struggles.

Shelters should still disclose any issues that they’re aware of at the time of adoption to adopters, and Herbst stresses that it’s critical for shelters and rescues to fully explain behavior issues and ways to work with or manage them to avoid headaches and heartbreak for all those involved down the line.

Your new pet is home — now what?

Once you’ve asked all the questions you can think of and still feel confident that the pet will be a good fit for your family and home, it’s time to take the next step and bring your new family member home. While every new pet will have an adjustment period, new pet parents often face a few common issues (especially if they didn’t follow the steps above). Here are a few of the most common issues Herbst sees with newly adopted pets and how they typically come to light.

Minor Behavioral Issues

Potty training, anxiety, destructiveness, and other annoying but minor behavior problems can happen when pets move into a new home. “These may not always be noticed at a shelter or if they had settled into a foster home,” Herbst says. She adds that these “can come about as a dog is settling in.”

Intra-animal issues

“Not every dog gets along with every other dog right away (or ever),” Herbst says, and the same is true for all animals (even humans). “Bringing a new dog into the home can really change the dynamics and cause behavior issues for any dog,” she says. “Even if the resident pet seems to be having issues, the adopted pet could pick up on that.”

Bonding takes time

“It takes time for people to really get to know their pets and for the pets to really get to know their new families,” Herbst says. Many people have high expectations for a perfect transition, especially if they’ve been close with their pets in the past. Per Herbst, when a new pet isn’t fitting in immediately, people often assume something is wrong instead of giving their new pet time to adjust and settle in.

Inexperienced pet parents

To combat some of the most common issues new pet parents face, such as struggling with training, Herbst recommends that adopters ask the rescue or shelter to share what resources they’ve already tried and to work with a trainer who already knows their new pet if possible.

“Try setting up an initial session with them to discuss specifics that could help the pet settle in,” she says. “If they don’t have one available, you can reach out to any local positive [reinforcement] trainer for a start up session.”

Do your homework ahead of time

“In a perfect world, a pet would find a home right away, but the world is not perfect,” Herbst says. “Pets are like people — they may not like every person and/or animal they meet, and we need to accept that.”

Of course, to set themselves and their new pet up for success, adopters should follow the advice above to ensure they have the resources available to care for the pet they bring home. Adopting a pet is a great thing, but it’s important to make sure you understand you’re giving them everything they need.