Winter can be tough on a pet. A dog of my acquaintance loves to get outdoors in just about any weather except the rain. If she knows she is going for run, she's even excited when the rain is pouring rain -- for a few minutes. Then she starts to look for any convenient corner as an excuse to turn around and head back home.
For dogs who are stuck being outdoors much of the winter, the city of Seattle is trying to make sure all the pets at least have some shelter. That's the thought behind what is now the Seattle Animal Shelter's 10th annual Habitat 4 Hounds drive to provide dog shelters for owners who can't afford a doghouse or dog igloo.
As the shelter's well-regarded director, Don Jordan, notes, the city certainly doesn't recommend leaving dogs to live outside, but it understands some people feel that is necessary. So, the shelter is collecting good-condition donated pet houses or igloos as well as monetary donations designated for doghouses. Last year, people donated more than $1,000 to help.
Later this week, the Seattle Humane Society will also launch a big holiday drive, to provide pet food for owners who might otherwise have to choose between taking care of themselves and their companions. The Humane Society (it's not connected with the city shelter) will hold its pet-food drive beginning Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and running through Jan. 2. Society spokeswoman Rhonda Manville said collection barrels will be at numerous stores in King County, including virtually every Safeway supermarket.
"Our pet food drive is very important to what we do here," Manville said. "It feeds about 1,200 pets a month who belong to people who are seniors or disabled" or who are simply having trouble meeting expenses. Some of the food is delivered directly to seniors or the disabled, and some goes to local food banks for distribution to their needy clients.
Manville said the holiday drive is critical to meeting needs year-round. Youth groups, other organizations and some workplaces also help by collecting donations as supplies start to run low in the summer, she said.
The Seattle Humane Society's Web site is here .
Here is how to give to the doghouse drive and other details from a city press release:
SEATTLE — The Seattle Animal Shelter is holding its 10th annual doghouse drive to help pet owners in need. Through “Habitat 4 Hounds,” the Seattle Animal Shelter will accept donations of new and used good-quality doghouses and dog igloos. The doghouses will be distributed to pet owners in need to help them provide better living environments for their dogs year-round.
“During the winter season, thousands of dogs are left out in the cold and rain with little or no refuge,” says Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Although we do not advocate leaving dogs to live outside, the reality is some dog owners do not allow their dogs inside their homes. We hope to gather as many doghouses and dog igloos as possible, prevent them from ending up in landfills as part of a homeowner’s fall clean-up, and provide more needy pet owners with protection for their dogs from Seattle’s rain and cold.”
New and used doghouses and dog igloos will be accepted through the winter months. The shelter will not accept any item that is either badly soiled or in a state of disrepair. Doghouses and igloos will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to anyone in need. The Shelter will also accept airline animal carriers/crates of various sizes, if they are in outstanding condition.
The shelter will also accept monetary donations that can be designated for buying doghouses. Make checks out to the shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” and be sure to write “doghouse fund” in the memo section. Last year, $1,000 was raised to buy doghouses for those in need.
The shelter is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W., one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing. For more information, call (206)386-PETS (7387) or visit the website at www.seattleanimalshelter.org .
