Many shelters across the country are full, and others are struggling to meet the needs of the animals. In 2024, nearly three million dogs entered shelters and rescues, with two million adopted and over 300,000 euthanized. Welcoming and loving homes are needed across the country to adopt dogs and other animals. Currently, not enough animals are being adopted to significantly reduce the number in shelters nationwide. Please consider adopting a pet, if you are able, in your area. An expanded list of animal shelters in Illinois is available here.
Pet adoption and promoting the welfare of animals in need is important to House Republicans. Earlier this year, State Representative Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) hosted a pet adoption day in her district at the Kankakee County Animal Control. The event encouraged prospective pet owners to meet pets and consider beginning the adoption process. State Representative Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) held a similar event in June in partnership with the Sangamon County Animal Protective League. Rep. Coffey also waived any adoption fees as part of his event.
Dogs are affectionately known as ‘man’s best friend,’ mostly due to their unwavering devotion and loyalty to their owners. The evolution of dogs dates back to prehistoric times, and dogs evolved from wolves. Their bond with humans developed naturally, as humans provided food and shelter, while dogs offered companionship and protection. Dogs that develop an attachment to their human caretakers often follow them from room to room to stay close by. Dogs can understand human commands and love to seek out physical touching and attention. In addition, dogs have natural protective instincts and can sense danger or something out of the ordinary about to happen.
There are a number of benefits to owning a dog, with reducing loneliness and isolation being an obvious one. Other science-based benefits include: helping to lower blood pressure, relieving stress and anxiety, increasing physical activity, making a person more attractive to others, improving social skills, and improving a person’s overall mood.
The French Bulldog is now the most popular dog breed in the U.S., recently ending a 30-plus-year run for the Labrador Retriever. The top five list from 2024 includes the Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and Poodle. An expanded list of the top 50 dog breeds brings forth a number of familiar dogs, including the dachshund, beagle, bulldog, Doberman pinscher, boxer, Boston terrier, border collie, and cocker spaniel, among many others.
Dogs offer so much more than just being household pets. They are extremely intelligent animals and can be trained in many areas of service, including law enforcement (K-9), hunting, herding, and overall support. Service animals can be any breed or size of dog, and they are trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability. Service animals are legally allowed to be in indoor places with their owner, including restaurants, hospitals, shops, and schools.
Dogs love the outdoors and can be the perfect teammates for adventure. A great example is the border collie, an extremely athletic breed with herding skills. Border collies can also provide assistance in search and rescue operations, and their boundless energy can be contagious. Hunting dogs are known for their stamina, intelligence, obedience, retrieving skills, and scent tracking skills. Emotional support dogs are not service dogs, but they do provide comfort and companionship to their owners.
Dogs can also be trained to save lives, track harmful narcotics and drugs, and even hunt down suspects. K-9 dogs are used to support law enforcement, and there are around 50,000 active police dogs across the country that perform various tasks. These dogs are expertly trained and many live with their human officer, often developing an unbreakable bond. These well-trained dogs are extremely obedient, and their outstanding work continues to gain recognition.