Recent news reports featured rows of empty kennels at animal shelters, telling of more happy endings for homeless animals. Adoptions have definitely increased while homebound Americans seek pets to help them deal with isolation and stress.
Pictured here is rescue dog Charcoal (now named Coal) who was recently adopted from Loving All Animals by CeCe Campbell and Janet Hardie. While you can't see the women's smiles behind their masks, Charcoal beamed joyfully at getting his second "second chance" home.
Campbell was the good samaritan who first found this pup running loose in the streets. The couple brought him to Loving All Animals, as they already had one dog and Hardie was still working full time. Charcoal was eventually adopted by another family, but sadly returned. Campbell often thought about the little guy, wondering if he might become available again;periodically, she checked Petfinder. It was serendipity when one day she saw him and immediately called to adopt. Hardie was now retired, and their 8-year-old dog, Sugar, was thrilled. Campbell reports, "Having a second dog keeps us all more active. It brings us renewed happiness to see how happy and active Sugar has become with a playmate. The four of us take more walks and have more playtime."
"During this difficult time, Loving All Animals is managing to still find homes for dog lovers," says Tracy Habijanac, one of the organization's managers. "We have people with time on their hands, and it couldn't be a better time to care for and love a pet. This is the perfect time to acclimate the doggies to their new environment before people go back to work."
In these dark times of uncertainty, millions of people need relief from anxiety, depression and loneliness. At the same time, we have millions of homeless pets languishing in shelters. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates approximately 3 million animals are euthanized in public shelters every year. Other homeless animals, abandoned or lost, roam our neighborhoods hungry and alone. These two separate problems, humans in need of companionship and comfort, and millions of animals in need of homes, can help ease the other.
Science has now proven what we animal lovers knew all along: Many studies indicate that the companionship of dogs and cats can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and improve both our mental and physical health.
Pets help us to stay in the present moment and push out invasive worries from our minds. Organizations such as Dogs for the Brave rescue dogs from shelters and train them as service dogs to help military veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma. Other service dogs alert their humans when they detect changes in the human body prior to an epileptic seizure. Heart attack patients with a cat or dog have a longer survival rate. Service dogs help people with chronic anxiety, enabling them to travel to work and stay calm.
Many of us have experienced the relaxing contentment that comes from having a purring cat sit on our laps. Now scientists have discovered one reason why cats keep us healthy and happy. Cats create purr vibrations with a range of 20 to 40 Hz, which is medically therapeutic for many illnesses. Their purring lowers stress, reduces the chance of heart attacks and reduces the symptoms of dyspnea, according to the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology. Their playful antics and loving companionship provide respite from loneliness, depression and other psychological ailments.
Now is a great time to consider adopting a new furry family member. A comprehensive website promoting rescue pet adoption (petfinder.com) helps you find the specific type of pet you seek. Did you know that 25% of the animals in shelters are pure breeds?
Below is a partial list of shelters and rescue organizationsin the Inland Empire with animals for adoption. You can view their animals online in advance of calling. If you cannot adopt right now, consider making a donation to one of the private rescues that relies on those funds.
Coachella Valley Animal Campus
This large county shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. You can view the animals at all four Riverside county shelters via rcdas.org. Be sure toget the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Email the animal's ID to shelterinfo@rivco.org and call (760) 343-3644. Located at 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms.
Palm Springs Animal Shelter
The shelter is closed, but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday and are closed on Tuesday. View their animals online at psanimalshelter.org.4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718.
Animal Samaritans
The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918.
California Paws Rescue
The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833.
Humane Society of the Coachella Valley
The shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203.
Kittyland
The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs. kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700.
Loving All Animals
The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000.
Morongo Basin Humane Society
Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, mbhumanesociety.com;call between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for updates: (760) 366-3786.
City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter
Shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption are 10 a.m. to4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. Google "City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter" for website to view animals and get ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 384-7272.
San Bernardino County Animal Shelter at Devore
Shelter is closed, but you can call for an appointment to adopt. (909) 386-9280 daily between 9 a.m. and5 p.m. View animals at sbcounty.gov/acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino.
Dream Team Angels Rescue
Foster-based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website dreamteamangelsrescue.com, (360) 688-8884.
Janet McAfee has written a Pet Page column for the CV Weekly Magazine for eight years and has rescued animals for Loving All Animals for 10 years.
