Wrapping Up San Diego’s First Adopt-a-Pet Day
Earlier this year, San Diego had a problem: There were too many dogs. Well, too many dogs that needed a home, to be exact.
As a result, authorities turned to the public for help. The San Diego County Department of Animal Services warned that shelters were overcrowded with hundreds of dogs, and during 2023, shelters took in more than 5,700 of them — but were only able to find homes for 5,100. So, there were still hundreds of dogs in need of a home.
Fast forward several months, and at the end of May, the first annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day was held in an effort to find these pets' homes. As such, adoption fees were waived for all the pets who were adopted on June 1 at certain animal shelters, and those pets were also vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped.
California Adopt-a-Pet Day
While adoption fees were waived on June 1, there were also adoption incentives for potential pet owners. The County says that senior citizens hoping to adopt may also have fees waived for a 30 day period (or more), and older dogs, or dogs who have been at the shelter for a relatively long time, could also see the fees waived.
In all, though, local news outlets report that 220 pets were adopted during the first California Adopt-a-Pet Day. Almost 150 shelters participated, and that includes eight in San Diego County, too.
That’s a fair measure of success! Obviously, there are still many pets that need to find a home in San Diego, so if you’re a prospective pet owner, you can read about adopting animals here. Given that this was the first California Adopt-a-Pet Day, too, here’s hoping that the 2025 iteration is even more successful at finding animals forever homes.
But for those who may have brought a pet home, we thought it’d be worthwhile to briefly recap some basic steps toward helping both you, and your new pet, adapt.
What to do after you adopt a pet
As we’ve covered in a previous blog post, there are a lot of things to think about before bringing a new pet home. If you’ve already decided to adopt a pet, too, it can be a good idea to remember all the costs involved beyond adoption fees. That can include medical care, insurance, food, and even the cost of toys and accessories.
Further, you’ll want to make sure your home is ready for a new pet, especially a dog. You can prepare your home by making sure they have a bed or comfortable place where they can sleep and rest, that there are no poisonous or toxic plants or cleaning products in reach, fragile objects are out of harm’s way, and that any fencing is sealed up so your pet doesn’t wander off.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember, too, is that you’ll need to be patient. Odds are, your pet will need some time to adjust to their new home — and you will, too. They may need some space, or just some time to get used to their new surroundings. It’s a good idea to afford them that space, and to simply do your best to make them comfortable.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, you can always get in touch — we’re happy to help you make the transition!
Contact us to make an appointment today!
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