Pet adoption

When COVID-19 hit, the Prince George’s County Animal Shelter closed. In the months that followed, new animals continued to come in, but adoptions stalled, prompting concern among volunteers who say the shelter isn’t doing enough. Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins reports.

A Maryland nonprofit is dedicated to helping rabbits find permanent homes. News4’s Megan McGrath has the details.

There’s never been a better time to adopt, and these animals are all looking for their forever home. Are you ready to add a new four-legged member to your family? Animal shelters across the country are once again teaming up with NBC and Telemundo stations to find loving homes for pets in need with the annual Clear The Shelters campaign....

“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” actor Skylar Astin discusses his involvement with NBC’s “Clear the Shelters” campaign which has provided over 411,000 pet adoptions since 2015. Astin will be doing “A Home for Hilly” ebook live reading where Hill’s Pets will donate a $1 per view up to $10,000.

Brown’s Subaru has donated $2,500 to the Prince William County Animal Shelter for the annual Clear The Shelters Campaign. News4’s Molette Green reports on how you can help give back to shelter animals this month too.

This year’s Clear the Shelters initiative is different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There isn’t a Clear the Shelters day. Instead, the effort lasts the whole month of August. News4’s Pat Lawson Muse spoke with Humane Rescue Alliance Digital Director Dani Rizzo and Prince William County Animal Shelter Communications Manager Jeremy Beale.

For new pet owners, there are some things to know before bringing the pet home. News4’s Pat Lawson Muse spoke with Dr. Wendy Weirich, BS, DVm, MSC, mid-Atlantic district consulting veterinarian for Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

With the coronavirus keeping many people at home and in need of some companionship, animal shelters have been seeing a boom in pet adoptions. NBCLX’s Eric Rodriguez explains why this may be the perfect time to add a furry friend to your family — and how shelters are keeping the adoption process safe.

Are you looking to adopt a dog? Make sure to ask yourself these three important questions before you go pick out a new best friend.

If you previously shied away from getting a dog due to working outside the home, you may now find yourself in an ideal situation. But remember that adopting a pet is a commitment to care for that pet for their entire life. If you’re willing and able to take on that kind of responsibility, here are some things you should...

Fostering pets can be a great way to help an animal in need while bringing joy into your life. NBCLX producer Sara Sanchez, who has cared for about 40 animals, joined LX News to discuss how fostering has improved her anxiety and her life overall.

Best Friends Animal Society hopes to bring people together around the world with a special benefit concert on July 22 called “Songs to Save Them All: A Benefit for Homeless Pets.” The event will livestream on Tiltify, Twitch, YouTube and Facebook as well as bestfriends.org/concert. The Best Friends Animal Society is a national animal welfare organization raising awareness to...

About 11 percent of cats end up back in shelters because of allergies, according to the ASPCA. With 3.4 million cats in shelters across the country each year, that’s about 374,000 felines surrendered because of allergies. And that number doesn’t include cats dumped out on the street each day. There may be a lot of confusion, and misinformation, about what...

While there are many reasons why it might not work out with your shelter pet, shelters are always happy to take them back. And problems that seem insurmountable at first can be cleared up with a couple of tips from a shelter worker. “No doubt they’ve heard it before,” one animal behaviorist says.

For centuries, humans have taken animal companions into their homes. But the utility of the animals goes beyond simple companionship. The evidence is increasingly clear that having a pet can lead to a longer, healthier life. Here are some of the ways a pet can help your health.

Senior pets are adopted at lower rates than younger animals — but for many adopters, a senior pet may fit their lifestyle better.

You’re certainly not alone if you think that two pets are better than one, but bringing home a new pet doesn’t always go smoothly when there’s another animal already in the house. Introducing your new pet to resident pets that have already been in your life can be a tricky process, one that’s going to require some patience, according to...

Sharing a home with a four-legged friend can be one of life’s greatest joys. But while pet ownership is rewarding, it’s also a big decision. Dogs require lots of time, money and responsibility — 10 to 15 years’ worth, in many cases. Dr. Pia Salk, author and spokeswoman for the non-profit pet adoption website AdoptaPet.com, warns against taking home a...

There has been an increase in people fostering and adopting animals while in quarantine. Veterinary Dr. Amber Burton of Wolf Trap Animal Rescue in Northern Virginia said virtual meetings are pairing loving families with rescue animals. “We’ll post 30 new puppies that come in every week,” Burton said. “We post them on Monday mornings, and within an hour we’ll...

With a lot more time at home, many people are adopting pets. When lockdowns lift, it will be difficult for your new pet to understand the changes. News4’s Drew Wilder spoke to animal experts about how you can prepare your pet for changes to come.