Pets Searching for a Loving Home on Father’s Day

Several families left the mall this past weekend happy to be bringing home a new addition to their family. The Moreno Valley Pet Shelter hosted its first-ever Father’s Day Pet Adoption on Saturday, June 15, bringing 13 different dogs out to the Moreno Valley Mall. Echoing dog barks brought people towards the far end of the mall, attracting enthusiastic animal lovers and passersby alike. A team of animal shelter staff and volunteers greeted people as they approached the different breeds, spending time answering questions and explaining about each one. Upon request, the team members took various dogs out of their kennels so that families could interact with the dog one-on-one. Animal Care Technician, Dorathy Haun, explained that the Moreno Valley Shelter is participating in a summer challenge sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Rachel Ray. There are about 50 other shelters participating in the challenge, all hoping to win the grand prize of $100,000. Haun, who has worked for the shelter for 20 years, notes, “172 animals have been adopted since June 1. Last year we would probably only be in our 60s by mid-month.” Within the first half hour of the event, the shelter added to their count with a Chihuahua. Shelter volunteer, Karen Sylva says the number-one criterion when making the decision to adopt is first to determine your lifestyle so that the dog matches your activity level. Sylva also points out that getting a dog is not a decision you can make hastily. Rather, you should really think it through because it is a lifetime commitment. Haun along with other team members will be out in the community for the next three months, bringing different shelter animals with them on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Rhonda Baiz, self-proclaimed animal activist and shelter volunteer, says, “This is what I love. I’ve stopped spending money on myself because I know that’s a dog’s life I could’ve saved.” To date, this challenge has helped save 7,291 animals’ lives. For more information about adopting a pet from the shelter, visit www.moval.org.