Why Adopting a Shelter Pet Will Change Your Life (and Theirs)

April 30th is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day! To celebrate, and maybe encourage you to welcome home a new friend, we've put together a list of 15 amazing benefits of adopting a shelter pet.

My Personal Journey: 15 Years in the Rescue Community

I have been an active part of our local animal rescue scene for nearly 15 years. I have done some crazy things in that time to help raise money for our local animals in need, including sitting in a dunking booth, taking pies to the face, and even hanging out in a dog kennel.

My Part to Help Save Lives - and You Can Too

I have also emceed dozens of charity events, shared thousands of animals on social media, and pretty much everything else that I can do to help homeless animals get adopted. Did you know that even if you can't adopt, sharing an adoptable pet on social media can increase the chance of that animal finding a forever home?

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A Cause Near and Dear to My Heart

Needless to say, this is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. I am currently a cat-mom to two amazing rescue kitties, and I can tell you firsthand just how much love shelter pets have to give.

READ MORE: Seven Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat

The Harsh Reality: What Shelter Pets Endure Before Finding a Home

In my time working with our rescue community, I have also seen some of the worst-case situations. I've seen the "defective" puppies that the backyard breeder couldn't sell because they were born with birth defects. I've seen cats taken in off the streets so sick that the rescue wasn't sure it would survive to finally be adopted.

A Community That Cares: How Local Rescues Go Above and Beyond Every Day

I've also seen our local rescue community fight every single day for these animals to ensure that no matter how bad off they are or where they have come from, they have a chance at finding their forever home.

So today, on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, I thought I would share with you 15 life-changing reasons you should adopt a new best friend. You can also keep scrolling to find a list of local, area shelters to help you find them.