During the month of October, we celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, a nationwide initiative focused on raising awareness about the countless shelter pets in need of loving homes.
Here are all the ways that you can brighten a shelter dog’s day and make a difference for pets in need in Sacramento County:
Adopt a New Pet
There’s no better way to celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month than by adopting a shelter pup of your very own!
“Adoption has brought so much joy to our family in so many ways,” said Chelsea Zecca, who recently adopted a dog from the shelter. This adoption brings the family’s pet count to two: they previously adopted another shelter dog last year. “Our rescue dogs make our family feel complete. The love they bring is unmatched, and the love we feel for them is the same. They’re family and we’re so excited to make a lifetime of memories with them!”
5-year-old Ariella Zecca cuddles on the couch with her two adopted best friends, Tahoe and Donner.
The shelter is located at 3839 Bradshaw Rd in Sacramento and open to the public for adoptions Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. with extended hours on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
Visit the Shelter
Even if you aren’t currently in a place to adopt, you can still visit the shelter during open hours and brighten a pet’s day. Grab a handful of treats and dole them out to the adorable dogs in their kennels while you say hello! You can even take photos or videos of your favorite pets of the day and share them on your social media accounts: maybe a friend or family member will fall in love and head to the shelter to give them a forever home.
Spread the Word
If you already have a pet that you adopted, share your happy adoption story on your social media accounts to inspire others to consider adopting their next pet. If you don’t have an adopted pet, you can still help spread the word by following Bradshaw Animal Shelter on
Facebook or
Instagram and sharing the shelter’s posts of adoptable pets to help them reach a larger audience.
If your pet was adopted from
Bradshaw Animal Shelter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeMetAtBradshaw to connect with other Bradshaw alums.
Donate or Volunteer
Shelters can always use donations, whether it's supplies or your time as a volunteer. Bradshaw Animal Shelter is always looking for donations of bath towels, blankets, and newspaper. Donations can be dropped off at any time outside of the animal admissions door, which is located to the left of the shelter’s main entrance.
Visit the Supporting Our Animals page for a full list of ways to give back. If you want to give pets in need the gift of your time,
visit the shelter’s volunteer information center to learn how to become a volunteer.
Foster a Pet
Pet fostering is a rewarding opportunity to be the bridge between the animal shelter and a pet’s forever home. When you foster for Bradshaw Animal Shelter, all necessary supplies and medical care is provided by the shelter.
Megan and one of her former foster pups, Ginger.
“Fostering to me means saving a life,” said Megan Fujii, a foster parent and volunteer at Bradshaw Animal Shelter. “It helps open up space in the already full shelter and makes the pet’s stay more relaxed while they’re waiting for their forever home. It’s the best feeling when your foster pet finds the perfect home!”
Adoption Success Stories
The best part of animal sheltering is seeing how pets flourish once they meet their forever families. Here are just a few heartwarming updates that adopters have recently shared about their
Bradshaw alums:
"Kona has fit in perfectly with us and she's very loved. She looks forward to walks and mealtime, and spends her days looking for lizards and lounging. We're so happy to have added this special girl to our family.”
“I feel like I have a strong connection with him.”
“She's so smart and eager to please and she's also the cuddliest lovebug. Basically, we can't imagine life without her.”
“She is wonderful: she's so sweet and a great family dog. She loves walks, cuddles, and running in the yard!”
The History of Animal Shelters
We can’t celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month without acknowledging the founder of the
first animal shelter in the United States, Mrs. Caroline Earl White. In 1869, Mrs. White and 30 fellow animal rights activists formed the Women’s Humane Society in Philadelphia, initially focusing on advocating for the humane treatment of carriage horses. These horses were often mistreated on city streets, lacking clean water and medical care.
After improving conditions for horses, they opened a shelter for lost dogs, reuniting them with owners or finding them new homes. Mrs. White and her fellow activists’ dedication paved the way for humane treatment of dogs, setting an example long before they even had the right to vote. Their original shelter, now known as the Women's Animal Center in Bensalem, Philadelphia, still operates today.
