Animal shelters are seeing more dogs get adopted than ever before
Dogs are finding their forever homes and it's the good news we totally needed today.

With news about COVID-19 popping up by the hour, reading the day's headlines can leave your heart feeling heavy, but there is one good news story that should lift you up, mama (especially if you're an animal lover).
Pet shelters are seeing record numbers of adoptions right now as families are spending more time at home. Seriously, animal rescues are running out of adoptable dogs and that's amazing news.
Around the country, shelters are running out of adoptable dogs. This isn't just good news for the dogs who are finding forever homes, but also for the animals who will come after them. With the more adoptable animals now living with families, shelters that are now operating with reduced staff can concentrate on the sick or injured animals who need their attention, and keep spaces open for animals who may need to be surrendered or rescued because of the coronavirus.
"Shelter dogs are really winning in this entire coronavirus experience," Sarah Brasky, the founder and executive director of Foster Dogs Inc. in New York told the Associated Press. "It's a strange phenomenon because there was always interest in fostering and rescue but now it is exploding."
According to Lorie Chortyk, a spokesperson for the B.C. SPCA, the extra time people are spending at home right now does make this a good time to bond with a new pet. "Because when an animal comes into your home, it's a very new experience for them, as well as for you — so just having that time to play, to get to know their habits, to do a bit of training, if that's what's needed, is good," Chortyk told CBC News. Animal advocates stress that families should only adopt right now if they will still have the time to be committed pet guardians when everyone goes back to school and work, but for families who were already planning on getting a dog eventually and can commit to one long-term, now really is an ideal time—for the dogs and for us. "The medical research shows that animals can reduce our stress, reduce our blood pressure, and just really be a source of comfort to us," Chortyk explains. "So I think they can also give back to us at the time where we really do need that comfort more than ever." She's right. According to Yale University, dogs can reduce our stress and make kids happier, kinder, gentler and more independent.
According to Lorie Chortyk, a spokesperson for the B.C. SPCA, the extra time people are spending at home right now does make this a good time to bond with a new pet. "Because when an animal comes into your home, it's a very new experience for them, as well as for you — so just having that time to play, to get to know their habits, to do a bit of training, if that's what's needed, is good," Chortyk told CBC News. Animal advocates stress that families should only adopt right now if they will still have the time to be committed pet guardians when everyone goes back to school and work, but for families who were already planning on getting a dog eventually and can commit to one long-term, now really is an ideal time—for the dogs and for us. "The medical research shows that animals can reduce our stress, reduce our blood pressure, and just really be a source of comfort to us," Chortyk explains. "So I think they can also give back to us at the time where we really do need that comfort more than ever." She's right. According to Yale University, dogs can reduce our stress and make kids happier, kinder, gentler and more independent.