Pet Adoption Event Saves 450 Animals
October 3rd, 2008
Thanks to the Super Adoption event, and through the passion and work of so many, thousands of abandoned and stray animals are provided with loving homes every year.
by Mary Ann Coral-Amasifuen
Watch The Super Pet Adoption Video
Animal rights issues have enjoyed support throughout the entire country as a result of non-profits such as the Humane Society and American Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. More recently grassroots organizations have sprung up buoyed by a large and passionate reservoir of organizers and volunteers on the local level.
In Utah these organizations exist as a result of widespread community support and because of a large contingent of individuals sympathetic to animal rights advocacy. This ongoing work is propelled by the philosophy that all living beings have the right not to be abused or maltreated because of human whimsy.
One of these organizations, No More Homeless Pets in Utah, began in July 2000 thanks to a generous grant from Maddie's Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation. From 2000-2005 Best Friends Animal Society acted as No More Homeless Pets in Utah's parent organization, providing financial support and mentoring so that No More Homeless Pets in Utah could become the life-saving force that it is today. An independent, non-profit 501c3 organization, No More Homeless Pets in Utah fulfills its mission by placing a strong emphasis on increasing the numbers of both adoptions and spay/neuter surgeries throughout the state. They focus on collaborating with other Utah shelters, rescue groups, veterinarians, and local governments to save animal lives.
One such effort, the Super Adoption event, held twice annually, started more than 15 years ago, and is now part of the official NMHP program. Animals are collected from various local shelters throughout the state of Utah, and for one weekend, in a sectioned off parking lot, under several big tents, offers them up for adoption to qualifying individuals and families. Every animal has a name, personality profile and health & neuter certificate so that the evaluation process is facilitated for visiting potential adoptive applicants. Every effort is made to secure a good match for those looking for companion animals and occasionally there are animals that have special needs. Volunteers assist those looking for a pet to help them make the right choice through applications and questionnaires with questions like "how many members in the family?; who will the primary responsibility for pet care go to? ; and how long will the animal be left alone, if at all, during the day?"
In Utah, shelters handled more than 85,000 homeless animals in 1999, of which nearly 46,000 were euthanized. Though this number has been greatly reduced, many kittens and puppies are still euthanized annually in Utah. Although No More Homeless Pets in Utah has a goal of finding homes for all the homeless animals in the state, while simultaneously slowing the birth rate, there will always be animals needing help, and it is unlikely that a shortage of available animals will ever occur.
