Cleveland APL Animals Hope to Go “Home 4 the Holidays”
November 28, 2007 – The Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) is joining more than 2,100 shelters around the world for the IAMS “Home 4 the Holidays 2007” adoption drive. There will be special festivities every weekend in December. Hours are Saturdays throughout December from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 4 p.m. On Monday, December 24, holiday hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In the past, many animal shelters have discouraged pet adoption during the holiday season for fear that families will make emotional decisions and return their pets after the New Year begins. Despite this concern, families invite more new pets into their homes during the holiday season than any other time of year. If the animal shelter or rescue group turns them away, they go the nearest pet store, backyard breeder, or puppy mill to purchase a pet. By remaining committed to educating prospective adopters and completing quality, lifelong adoptions, the Cleveland APL believes there is no reason any more of these pets will be returned than at other times of the year. Meanwhile, lives are saved.
“The ‘Home 4 the Holidays’ campaign is a national event to promote the adoption of shelter animals,” explains Ayse Casson, Shelter Operations Manager at the Cleveland APL. “We ask people who are thinking of adding a companion animal to their family during the holidays to adopt a homeless animal from a shelter or rescue group, rather than going to a breeder or buying from a pet store. By adopting an orphaned shelter animal, you’re not only giving a precious gift to a loved one, you’re also giving the gift of saving a life!”
Animals adopted during this promotion can have their picture taken with Santa Claus for only $5 from noon – 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 15 and Saturday December 22. Refreshments will be available during the APL’s annual Holiday Bake Sale on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. through December 23. Special ornaments will be displayed on the APL lobby Holiday Tree for every animal that goes “Home 4 the Holidays.”
“Last year hundreds of thousands of shelter animals nationwide found a new home thanks to this program,” states Casson, “At the APL, we have hundreds of animals in our care and hope that every one of them will have a new family to love for the holidays.” Families not planning to add a pet to their homes this holiday season are invited to join the festivities by stopping by the Cleveland APL for a pet portrait photo with Santa, to purchase bake sale goodies, APL Gift Certificates, or to shop for gifts for your precious pet in our retail store. Purchases will support the Cleveland APL’s life-saving efforts.
