Dearborn Pet of the Week: Help Happy Find Happiness

DEARBORN, MI – Happy, a 4-year-old German shepherd who came to the Dearborn Animal Shelter as a stray, would be happier if he had a home.

He knows basic commands, such as “sit,” and he plays well with balls.

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“He’s a clever boy and did well on his behavioral test with our trainer, which means he could make an excellent companion for many households,” the Dearborn Animal Shelter said.

» See Happy and all of the shelter’s adoptable pets here.

How You Can Help Happy Find a Home

Do you know someone who's looking for a pet? Share this post with your friends on social media and help Happy find a home.

Why You Should Adopt a Shelter Pet

Here are five of them:

1. You'll save a life. More than 2.7 million pets in shelters across the country are euthanized each year because too few people adopt.

2. You’ll get a great pet. Most of the pets in animal shelters are there because of a human problem — for example, a move to a place pets aren’t allowed or a divorce — not because the animal did anything wrong.

3. You’ll get a great bargain. The fee for adoption normally includes the the cost to spay or neuter the animal, vaccinations and microchipping. All animals at the Dearborn Animal Shelter are microchipped before they’re adopted. The fee varies at the Dearborn animal shelter. Adoption fees for kittens are higher than for adult cats. The same goes for puppies and adult dogs. Learn more here.

4. You’ll take a stand against puppy mills, factory style breeding facilities that put profit over the welfare of dogs. Many are housed in shockingly poor conditions, receive inadequate medical care, and are often very sick and behaviorally troubled as a result. If you’re buying from a pet store or online seller, chances are good that you’re financially supporting a puppy mill.

5. Research shows that having a pet is psychologically, emotionally and physically beneficial. Because adopting a shelter pet is a choice you can feel good about, you can add improved self-esteem to the mix of benefits.