For the first time in its history, the Friends of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Animal Shelter had an empty kennel as every single dog was adopted.
The staff and volunteers at the shelter celebrated this wonderful milestone by cheering for everyone whose commitment, hard work and love for animals made this possible. As this was the first time they had ever seen the kennel empty, staff at the shelter took a heartwarming video and shared it online with the following message:
“An incredible and joyful thing happened today….For the first time in the history of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, we have completely emptied one of our three dog kennels!”
The staff thanked the volunteers and all of the community for helping to provide a home for their furry friends.
“This amazing milestone was made possible by the help and support of our entire community! Thank you to the shelter staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to care for, find homes for, and advocate for the pets who come through these doors; thank you to our incredible foster parents who open their heart and homes to thousands of pets each year; thank you to everyone who has opted to adopt a shelter pet – whether it be here or from any of the other amazing organizations out there; thank you to our placement partner organizations far and wide – without them, this would not be possible.”
The kennel has 48 dog runs which often house 2 dogs each.
“It’s definitely been a combined effort from the community. The animals went to foster homes, adopters, and to our partner rescue organizations,” the shelter’s community outreach manager Elizabeth Harfmann said.
Numerous people from around the world have decided to adopt during the pandemic, and studies have shown that cuddling and petting a dog or a cat can greatly reduce stress levels.
“Just 10 minutes can have a significant impact,” explained associate professor Patricia Pendry who was involved in WSU’s study on pets and stress reduction. “[Participants] in our study that interacted with cats and dogs had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone.”
For those who are considering adopting a lovable new furry best friend, during the pandemic is a great time to do so.
“If you don’t have a pet and are thinking about getting one, now is the perfect time to ‘try it on’ by fostering from your local shelter. Shelters and pet adoption facilities nationwide need people to foster pets on a temporary basis,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society.
“It’s not only safe to keep pets in the home, but also beneficial, as they can serve as a source of comfort during a crisis. The companionship of pets has been shown to reduce stress and lower anxiety, helping people to feel calmer and more secure when the news from the outside world is distressing.”
The Friends of Palm Beach Shelter is both excited and grateful for the number of pets being saved, not only at their location, but around the world.
“We’re still over-the-moon with excitement seeing so many pets being adopted and fostered – not only here in Palm Beach County – but across the country!” the shelter wrote. “If you are interested in fostering or adopting a dog or cat (and helping us reach our goal of emptying another kennel), please visit our website and submit one of the online applications: www.pbcgov.com/snap.”
While the pandemic is certainly stressful, it’s beautiful to see so many lovable dogs and cats finding their forever homes.
Watch this video of staff and volunteers cheering after their kennel is completely emptied:
You are Loved.
See Also: Rescue Dog Refuses To Let Go Of His New Owner’s Arm On The Ride To His New Home
