By Janet McAfee
Pictured here is Loving All Animals’ rescue dog Charcoal (now named Coal) who was happily adopted this week by CeCe Campbell and Janet Hardie. You can’t see everyone’s smiles due to the masks in this “socially distanced adoption.” However, Charcoal beamed joyfully at getting his second “second chance” home.
Tracy Habijanac with Loving All Animals reports that little Charcoal was adopted awhile back and sadly returned. Tracy explains, “CeCe originally found Charcoal as a stray and fostered him. She reluctantly relinquished him to our rescue. When he was subsequently adopted and returned to LAA, CeCe immediately noticed he was back on Petfinder. She felt it was serendipity, and called right away to adopt. This is a great adoption! I’m still slogging through these adoptions with or without the Covid-19 Apocalypse virus.”
CeCe reports, “Coal is not only improving our lives and bringing us happiness, but he’s brought joy and renewed energy to our 8-yr-old dog Sugar. Sugar was never interested in playing with other dogs at the dog park, but during the short time we had Charcoal before we saw they had a connection. These two love playing together, and Sugar has transformed.” CeCe forwarded a video showing Sugar and Charcoal zooming through their yard in a game of chase which ended in happy tumbling. Two dogs often doubles the fun and the love.
Science has now proven what we animal lovers knew all along. Many scientific studies indicate the companionship of dogs and cats provides benefits of lowering high blood pressure, reduction of stress, and the overall improvement of our mental and physical health. In these dark times of uncertainty, millions more people need stress relief from anxiety. At the same time, we have millions of homeless pets languishing in shelters. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates approximately 3 million animals are euthanized in public shelters every year. Others homeless animals are abandoned or lost, roaming our neighborhoods hungry and alone.
These two separate problems, humans needing companionship and stress relief, and millions of animals needing homes, can help ease the other. Recent news reports feature more happy endings for shelter animals, in some cases showing rows of empty kennels. Adoptions have increased while folks are home bound and seeking animals to help them deal with loneliness and tension. Hopefully this trend will continue in order to counter the possibility of animals being returned in upcoming months due to illness or economic downturn.
Our pets help us to stay in the present moment and push out invasive worries from our minds. I have met combat Veterans with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) who were unable to work or venture outside their homes until a specially trained service dog brought them renewed calm and security. Other service dogs are trained to alert their humans when they detect changes in the human body prior to an epileptic seizure. Heart attack patients who own a cat or dog have a longer survival rate.
Many of us have experienced the relaxing contentment from having a purring cat sit on our laps. Now scientists have discovered one reason why cats keep us healthy and happy. Cats create purr vibrations with a range of 20 to 40 Hz, which is medically therapeutic for many illnesses. Their purring lowers stress, reduces the chance of heart attacks, and reduces the symptoms of dyspnea. Their playful antics and loving companionship provide respite from loneliness, depression, and other psychological ailments.
Now is a great time to consider adopting a new furry family member. A comprehensive website promoting rescue pet adoption is www.petfinder.com. By typing in your preferences as to breed, size, gender and age along with your zip code, you can find animals nearby you that need of homes.
Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire that have animals for adoption. Some of them also offer foster programs. The information is current as we go to print, but please call for updates as things can change. You can view their animals online in advance of calling. If you cannot adopt right now, consider making a donation to one of the private rescues that rely on private donations.
COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS – This large county shelter is now closed for adoptions. You can view the animals at all 4 county shelters at www.rcdas.org, and get the ID number of the animal(s) you want to meet. Email them with the animal’s ID number at shelterinfo@rivco.org and call (760) 343-3644. Located at 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms. (Public)
PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed, but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesday. View their animals online at www.psanimalsshelter.org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public)
ANIMAL SAMARITANS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www.animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private)
CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www.californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833. (Private)
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY – The shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www.orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203. (Private)
KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs. www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700. (Private)
LOVING ALL ANIMALS – Shelter currently closed, dogs in foster homes. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000. (Private)
MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, www.mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-4pm for updates(760) 366-3786 (Private)
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL SHELTER – Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sun/Mon. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 384-7272. (Public)
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Call (909) 386-9280 daily between 9am & 5pm. View animals at www.sbcounty.gov/acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).
DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE – Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website www.DreamTeamangelsrescue.com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)
Photo by Tracy Habijanac
