Rescue Dogs Attract Young and Old at Adoption Event

PetSmart customers in Rockville, Md., were lured Saturday by the big brown eyes, wagging tales and loud barks of dogs hoping to find a home.


Volunteers from Partnership for Animal Welfare (PAW) held them firmly by their leashes, making sure they were on their best behavior before prospective buyers. Joey, the black Newfoundland, licked people who came to pet him; Charlie Brown, the shy Basset Hound with the big brown eyes, sat quietly with his PAW volunteer; and Dakota, the sprightly Beagle Terrier, barked at every dog and passerby at the store.

Abandoned Dogs are Rescued from 'Kill Shelters'

PAW, a non-profit organization made up of volunteers, rescues homeless dogs from shelters and places them for adoption. These organizations are often called "kill-shelters" because many of the animals are euthanized for health reasons or simply because of limited space. PAW holds several dog shows in area pet stores in Maryland. At Saturday's show, several families with children stopped to admire them and asked for details about the dogs on display. PAW volunteers had some grim stories to tell.

One of the PAW volunteers explains that Joey, like other animals taken from a kill shelter, was not immediately put up for adoption.

listen to ‘PAW Volunteer Explains Rescue of Joey’ on Audioboo

If a customer shows interest in one of the dogs up for adoption, he or she cannot take it home right away, says Lauren Saft, one of the PAW volunteers on hand at the adoption show.

Prospective Adopters Must Pass Several Background Reviews

PAW goes through several other steps before an adoption in finalized, such as a vet check of an applicant's current pets to make sure they are up to date with vaccinations and other care required to keep them healthy. Even after an applicant is approved by the committee, he or she must go through another important step before the adoption is complete: a house check, according to Sue Silver, PAW's dog coordinator.



PAW explains the adoption process for its animals on its website, and has a photo and description of available dogs and cats. Some customers at the store had already checked out the dogs on PAW's website and showed an interest in filling out applications. Others took their time, getting to know the dogs at the store. For those who missed the adoption show at PetSmart, there are plenty of others scheduled for the remainder of this month, says Silver. These are listed on PAW's website.