All animals over 6 months old are just $5 through Saturday, February 29 at the Asheville Humane Society Adoption Center!

Although the love of a pet is priceless, all of the following are still included when you adopt! Each adoption fee includes spay/neuter, all up-to-date vaccines, behavioral training when appropriate, microchip and free 1-year registration, a free starter bag of food, and a free wellness visit with a participating veterinarian. 

To see available animals, visit www.ashevillehumane.org. The Adoption Center is located at 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville (off Brevard and Pond Roads, near the WNC Farmers Market). It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM (Tuesdays until 7 PM). The dog and cat rooms are closed daily for naptime from 1 to 2 PM, giving animals a much-needed break. The lobby remains open where you can speak with staff, enjoy refreshments, read or watch videos!

Most dog lovers consider their pets part of the family. This is great -- until we realize that dogs, like humans, are exposed to real dangers from ordinary things in and around our own home. Of greater concern is that some of the things we as humans take for granted can present serious hazards to dogs.

Did you ever think about the fact, for example, that common household items such as string, rubber bands, electrical wire and the cords from your blinds or window shades could be dangerous to your dog? Have you made sure to secure household cleaners, insecticides, plant fertilizer and antifreeze so your dog doesn't get into them? Did you know some household plants can be toxic to dogs, and that some common drugs can be harmful to drugs?

A site called HomeGuides offers some valuable free advice about "Keeping Pets Safe in the Home," covering the above, as well as providing a room-by-room safety guide, Check it out here: https://homeguides.co.uk/pet-safety/

Image: Pixabay.com

Tuesday, February 25 is World Spay Day.  Created by the Doris Day Animal League in 1995 as Spay Day USA, World Spay Day has been recognized by nearly 70 countries, shining a spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spay/neuter to save the lives of companion animals, community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in shelters or killed on the street.

Please make sure your dog and every pet you know is spayed or neutered. Right here in the Asheville area is one of the nation's leading spay/neuter clinics which offers affordable spay/neuter: ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance. Here are all of the great reasons you should spay or neuter your pet from the Humane Society of the United States:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/why-you-should-spayneuter-your-pet

Hiking Hounds is one of the most popular Asheville Humane Society volunteer activities. Each month, volunteers take shelter dogs on hikes as part of the enrichment programming. You'll spend a few hours in Bent Creek hiking the trails with dogs who will love you for it.

The next hike will be on Sunday, March 1.

Start time is 10 AM for repeat hikers and 9:30 AM for new hikers. Hikes are typically 3-5 miles at a brisk pace with elevation changes and provide vigorous exercise for our volunteer hikers as well. They do not cancel hikes because of rain, as our pups don’t mind getting wet. Hikers generally return to the shelter at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville around 11:30 AM to 12 PM.

Note: New and repeat hikers alike are required to sign up in advance. If you'd like to sign up for this hike, email ahshikinghounds@outlook.com. Hikers are signed up on a "first come-first serve basis" and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend a hike. If you don’t get an email from Hiking Hounds, assume they didn’t get yours! Please be sure you can actually make the hike; if we have late cancellations, a dog gets left behind without a hike.

For more information visit the Hiking Hounds Facebook page.

Join Blue Ridge Humane Society at the Champion Hills Clubhouse in Hendersonville, NC on Tuesday, March 24 from 12 to 2 PM. This Benefit Luncheon will feature special guest speaker Adam LeGrand of K9s for Warriors. The event will celebrate the positive impact of animal rescue not just in Henderson County but in the lives of veterans across the nation. Adam will speak directly to the profound effect that a service animal has had in his life, after Molly was rescued from a Henderson County shelter and became a part of the K9s for Warriors Program. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, visit: https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/benefit-luncheon/