Time Magazine pet of the year
Rescue animals are Time Magazine 2020 pet of the year.
Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted annually; according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). During 2020 that number was definitely higher. As people were confined to their homes in response the pandemic; the ASPCA reported that animal welfare organizations across the country saw a spike in adoptions.
Initially, there were fears that stay-at-home orders would lead to shelters being overrun due to a rise in abandoned pets. Officials from rescue organizations like Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) actually found that the opposite was true.
Time Magazine pet of the year recognises the emotional support that pets give their owners during this time.
2021 is shaping up to be an enormous year for shelter pets. In January, a shelter dog took up residence in the White House. This had never happened before, making President Joe Biden and his dog Major figureheads for the adoption movement. Major is a German shepherd dog who the Biden’s adopted in 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association. For those who adopted or know the value of adopting; it was an important day for supporters of “Adopt, don’t shop”. This growing movement encourages shelter and rescue adoption rather than purchasing pets from breeders.
Time Magazine’s pet of the year highlights the important work of these organisations, finding safe homes for dogs and cats. It also highlights that if a rescue pet is good enough for the president it’s good enough for everyone!
Major and the Biden’s´ other dog Champ in the White House marks the return of the time-honored tradition of presidential pets.
Donald Trump was the first president in over 100 years to not have a cat or a dog, or any pet. America is a nation of pet owners so it is reassuring for many people to see some in the White House again.
It is surprising to know that it has been twenty years since a cat has lived at the White House but the Bidens have also decided to get a little feline friend as well.
The announcement came after Dr Jill Biden had previously revealed that she would love to get a cat as she loves having animals in her home.
It is not the first ever cat in the presidential home however as the Clintons adopted a stray called Socks whilst George W Bush had a cat called India.
