Today is National Pet Day!
It is a day that Colleen Paige founded in 2006 to celebrate pets and to bring awareness to ongoing needs of the millions of cats, dogs, and others that enter shelters every year.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 6.5 million animals enter shelters countrywide in 2023. But only 1.6 million cats and 1.6 million dogs find their “furever” home and families.
Our pets become valued family members. They bring so much love and happiness to families. Our own Cocoa helped raise our kids. Among the many things she did for our children as they grew was helped them learn to care for and help raise a living soul. They also learned from Cocoa to be responsible. These lessons carried over to our children’s interactions with friends and to life.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) research has found that our “furfriends” also contribute to our own overall cardiovascular health by lowering cortisol, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels!
National Pet Day (and year-round) is a time to cherish our pets but also encourage those looking for a pet to consider adopting and help spread the word of adopting. In addition, consider visiting our local Winchester Area SPCA and helping by adopting, volunteering, and shopping at their thrift store (who doesn’t like a bargain on household items!).
The Winchester Area SPCA is located 111 Featherbed Lane, Winchester. The SPCA Thrift Shop is located at 1944 Abrams Creek, Winchester.
For more information, visit www.winchesterspca.org, or call 540-662-8616.
Les Veach
Winchester
