Our Companions Calendar of Events

If you're considering adopting a cat or dog during the holiday season, visit the Iams ® Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption event:

Saturday, November 22nd
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
PETCO
Avon and Manchester.

Historically, animal rescue organizations have discouraged potential owners from adopting pets as holiday gifts, citing such negatives as overly excited children and the noisy celebrations that can interfere with a successful pet placement. Worse yet, it was believed that pets adopted during holiday periods were often "impulse buys" and were frequently returned after the big day.

Not so, say researchers at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego. In 1999, the Center teamed up with 14 San Diego area animal shelters and pet food producer Iams to start the Iams ® Home 4 the Holidays program. That year they found homes for 2,563 orphaned pets and learned that the return rate was no higher than at any other time of the year. "We work hard to discourage people from patronizing pet stores, which often traffic in puppy-mill animals. Still, we know that people want to get pets during the holidays, and if shelters won't accommodate them, they will go to pet shops," says Susan Linker, Chief Executive Officer of Our Companions. "Given that fact, we have a responsibility to our rescue animals to take advantage of this high-demand period. Adoption screening can be done just as zealously in December as it can be in May, and we feel animals should be in homes, not concrete kennels during the holidays."

Since 1999, the annual campaign has grown into the largest pet adoption drive in history. Last year, it set a new world adoption record with 491,612 placements, but this year's goal is even higher: one million adoptions. So if you or anyone you know is looking for a pet this holiday season, be sure to stop by and visit us at the Avon or Manchester Petco locations on November 22nd!

Click here for Home for the Holidays flyer

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