Monica Wants It: The Shelter Pet Project Campaign {Make a Difference}

Today I am going to take a break from the usual glitter and crafts that fill the pages of this blog to talk about something very dear to my heart.

My dog Pee Wee. If you follow me on Twitter, you all know I tweet photos of my little boy all the time. He makes my life happier, more meaningful and richer. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t make me laugh, smile and feel pure and utter joy.

I have him thanks to great animal shelters/rescues. There are many, many dogs that need homes, and I want to urge you to adopt an animal/dog from a shelter/rescue group. Why? To me there are many reasons. First of all, everytime you adopt an animal from a rescue/shelter, you enable that organization an opportunity to house another animal. Also, many times shelters/rescues vaccinate the animal and spade/neuter the animal which saves you time and money.

But besides all those logical reasons such as helping a charitable organization and saving money, the bottom line truly is this: if you adopt from a shelter/rescue group, you save an animal’s life. At the time you get your new pet/family member, it may seem like you’re saving their life by adopting them. I assure you that eventually as time goes by, you’ll probably feel they add more to your life, too.

So in this time of giving gifts, joy and love, I hope that if a pet is amongst one of your wishes this holiday season, please try to adopt from a shelter/rescue group rather than a breeder or pet store. Animal shelters and rescue groups are usually a non-profit organization, so they’re there purely to help animals find a forever home.

Also, it’s great to volunteer for a local shelter or see if you can help by making any donations. Especially in cold climates, shelters/rescues probably have a long list of items that would make the winter season warmer for all the animals they care for. So even if you can’t adopt a pet, you can still do your part to make a difference and help the animals.

Having Pee Wee in my life for over 6 years now has been amazing. He often teaches me what truly matters in life. Sometimes when I let small things get to me, I notice the pure joy he finds in basking in the sun. When I feel like everything is a mess, he reminds me sometimes you just have to nap and get to it later. When I let life’s frantic pace get the best of me, he reminds me to stop and smell the flowers…or enjoy a treat on the couch.

Overall, Pee Wee has made me a better person. He’s taught me to love unconditionally, relish in the beauty of nature, and nap as often as possible and show others you love them every chance you get. For a 20 pound doggie, he sure makes a positive difference in my life every single day.

Won’t you adopt an animal and make a difference, too?

If you want more information on how to adopt a pet from a shelter/rescue group, here’s some information to get you started:

The Shelter Pet Project

You can also find them on many social media sites:

Do you have a pet from an animal shelter or rescue group? I’d love for you to share any tips you have for people seeking to adopt a pet for their family in the comments section.