And a family whose life changed after adopting a lovable three-legged mutt.
Katie’s a lifelong animal lover, but don’t try to pressure her to pick a team: She’s neither a cat nor a dog person. She loves them equally (and has both in her family — Carrie has two cats and Ellie has a dog!) and knows that pet adoption is just as much of a gift to pet parents as it is to the furry little friends they’re saving. During a visit to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ, Katie got to witness first-hand how an adopted pet can make a family feel complete.
Six-year-old Betty Nelson had always been afraid of dogs…until she met Chief. A sweet, calm, three-legged bundle of love, Chief was living as a stray in Louisiana when a hunter mistook him for a wild animal and shot him. Chief lost his leg, but after being transported by Greater Good Charities to St. Hubert’s, he was being fostered by the Nelson’s neighbor. That’s how he met Betty, and the pair became inseparable. Betty found a new best friend, and Chief found a forever family.
Chief is just one of the many success stories to come out of St. Hubert’s, the largest animal services provider in the region, touching the lives of tens of thousands of animals each year. Since 2021, the number of stray pets arriving at shelters across the country has increased by 26 percent, so the need for pet adoption is more crucial than ever. Thanks to organizations like St. Hubert’s and dedicated sponsors like Mars, Incorporated, these pets are that much closer to finding their forever homes.
From Friday, September 29th through Sunday, October 1st, Mars is partnering with shelters in 15 cities across the country to cover up to $100,000 in cat and dog adoption fees to further its ambition to end pet homelessness. If you’re looking for a new furry friend, there’s no time like the present to adopt or foster a pet. It’s an act that will change both of your lives for the better. For more information on participating shelters, visit bettercitiesforpets.com.
