It’s sad to say, but homeless animals outnumber homeless people one to five in the United States, and only one out of every 10 dogs will find a forever home. That’s why the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) started the International Homeless Animals’ Day in 1992. The holiday, held on August 15 this year, is designed to educate people about different issues surrounding animal homelessness including pet abandonment, feral animals, and the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
The holiday is scheduled annually on the third Saturday of every August, and awareness campaigns happen in every state and around the world. To find an International Homeless Animals’ Day in your area, checkout the ISAR website, where they list events by state and country.
If there’s nothing available in your area, throw your own awareness event. It can be an animal food drive for a local animal shelter, or a candlelight vigil to bring people’s attention to the millions of animals abandoned each year. Some people have spay and neuter clinics, while other communities hold adopt-a-thons. If you want to throw your own campaign, contact the ISAR. They’ll send you a packet filled with posters and marketing items to help you advertise your event.
In the 24 years ISAR has been sponsoring the International Homeless Animals’ Day, they have saved millions of dog and cat lives, prevented millions of new births, and facilitated too many adoptions to even count.
If you’d like to help out, but don’t know what to do, monetary donations are accepted via the ISAR’s website or you can donate to your local animal shelter. Other ways to help include purchasing dog and cat food, leashes and collars, bedding, shampoo, and other animal products and donating them.
If you’re a pet owner or considering becoming one, think about adopting a pet from a shelter instead of from a breeder or pet store. Even pure breed dogs can be found, as they make up nearly 25 percent of all dog rescues. When you do adopt a pet, treat the animal as if it’s a member of the family and give it a forever home. Spay and neuter your pets to stop overpopulation and feral animals.