Bringing a new furry friend home for the holidays? Here is what you need to know.
There are plenty of animals looking for their forever homes across the Upstate.
Cats, dogs, kittens and puppies are among some of the animals available for adoption this holiday season.
But shelters warn people about picking out the right pet because so many people return them after the holidays after realizing they're not the right fit for their family.
Roughly 6.5 million animals enter shelters each year but only 3.2 are adopted, according to Zebra.com's pet adoption statistics.
When you adopt a pet, you save a life and make room at the shelter for other animals.
Pets are available in animal shelters across the Upstate, including at:
Anderson County P.A.W.S. adoption center is located at 1320 Highway U.S. 29 S. and is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Spartanburg Humane Society, located at 150 Dexter Road, is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Greenville Humane Society at 305 Airport Road is open from noon to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
What to consider before adopting a pet.
Are you ready to adopt? Choosing to adopt means you will take care of an animal for the rest of its life, which can be between 10 and 15 years for dogs and up to 20 years for cats.
Make sure you are ready for this type of commitment before adopting.
Do your research before choosing a pet. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), to find out what pet is right for your household, you should consider your personality and lifestyle, as well as challenges such as space restrictions and time spent at home.
Be prepared to invest in your pet. Veterinarian care, equipment, food, and training can be expensive. In 2020, people spent $99 billion on their pets, according to Pet Pedia.
The cost of owning a cat is about $1,149 annually. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the cost of owning a dog depends on the breed.
A small breed costs $737, a medium breed costs $894, and a large breed costs $1,040.
If you are considering adoption, you should spend some time getting to know your chosen pet and visit them more than once.
It is best to bring your other pets to the shelter to meet your new ones to be sure they can get along. Finally, make sure you feel comfortable with the animal before bringing it home.
Here are some furry companions looking for new homes
Anderson County P.A.W.S. shelter
This is Dewayne, adoption supervisor Randi Leigh Ashley said. "He is a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever mix who came to the shelter looking rough and underweight."
He has made a lot of progress and is now looking much better and healthier, Ashley said. Dewayne is a super social dog who loves to play with both his human and doggy friends.
If you want to meet Dewayne and learn how awesome he is, he'll be waiting for you at Anderson County PAWS.
Spartanburg Humane Society
This is Zeus. He has lived at Spartanburg Humane Society for the longest time. Angle Cox, CEO at the Humane Society, said he has been at the shelter for nearly four years.
He is a pitbull and weighs 62 pounds and has a fun personality. His favorite toys are soccer balls and milk cartons.
Cox said Zeus would be an ideal companion in a home without other pets. He just does not want to share his life with another furry resident.
He is almost seven years old so he just wants a good life filled with lots of outdoor activities and hours of snuggling.
Greenville Humane Society
Meet Little Bit, a spunky, sweet, playful 5-month-old ready to pounce on her forever home.
She’s everything you’d expect from a teenage kitten. Erin Simmons, outreach operations manager said Little Bit loves to chase anything that moves and shows off her impressive climbing skills by scaling everything.
It would be best for Little Bit if she could live in a home with other pets who can teach her how to maximize playtime and appreciate as many catnaps as possible.
It's even better if the home has a generous stash of yummy treats.
Little Bit is just one of many pets at the Greenville Humane Society dreaming of finding the right family in time for the holidays.
To learn more about her and the other animals available, visit www.greenvillehumane.com
How to help animals this holiday season
1. Adopt
"When you adopt a pet it makes room and opens up resources in the shelter for more animals in need," Cox, CEO of Spartanburg Humane Society, said.
2. Become a foster caregiver.
As a foster parent, Cox said residents can get first-hand experience with having a companion animal in their home while giving their foster pet a chance to decompress outside of a shelter and enjoy life in an accepting home for the first time.
3. Donate the necessary supplies or funds.
Residents can help their local shelter by donating funds, food, medicine and toys, Cox said.
4. Volunteer
Residents can help clean, train, and care for the animals at your local shelter, Cox said. Volunteering helps the shelter save more animals by allowing them to use resources more efficiently.
5. Spread the word on social media.
Social media can be used to share content and information from local shelters and rescues, Cox said.
Efforts like this can help spread awareness about adoption and support local organizations.
Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: 3 pets ready for adoption in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson.
