#123: PetsConnect!

As of today, we are a month and half away from Christmas, and in a nod to our holiday series on  nonprofits in the area, this post features a local organization that is particularly appropriate to this time of year. 

At this time, many pets given as holiday gifts have outstayed[/-grown] their welcome, and area shelters find themselves swamped with new guests.  There are many area organizations that combat the pet overpopulation problem--Michiana Pet Advocacy Center, Pet Refuge, South Bend Animal Care and Control to name a few--and all are typically at full capacity, especially now.

However, even though a dog may make those new year resolutions to exercise stick, or a cat or two would be nice to celebrate with on Feb. 14th, aka "Screw This, I'm Going to Be a Cat Lady" Day, thinking of the challenges that come with adopting a shelter pet quickly chase away those warm n' fuzzies. 

Never fear.  PetsConnect! is a volunteer-run operation that works with these shelters to facilitate adoption of their animals.  Trained volunteers take on 'foster' pets for basic training, temperament screening, and medical care to ready these animals for a permanent home.  They'll do a lot of the difficult work for you so that it's less intimidating to adopt a shelter pet.

They also are always looking for volunteers, so just stop by one of their events to talk to someone about helping out.  And if you need an immediate boost of puppy love, get tickets asap for their 4th annual "Tails of Love Island Bash" benefit on February 12th.  Music, dancing, frozen drinks, possibly parrots and definitely Parrot Heads. Click here for details and tickets.