In Marin / FYI
ranging from $10 to $250. But, despite the
myriad benefits of adoption, it seems that many
in Marin continue to purchase shiny new pets
rather than save them — and this county isn’t
alone. HSUS estimates that only 30 percent of
the country’s pets are adopted from shelters
or rescues. “Anecdotally, it appears people
in Marin buy from breeders more than they
adopt,” says Lisa Bloch of the Marin Humane
Society. MHS believes that with growing
awareness, the consciousness Marin residents
have about the world around them will soon
extend to animal adoption.
Creature Comforts
The Marin Humane Society (MHS) placed
about 2, 100 animals in homes last year, eutha-
nizing 350 — which, when you look at national
averages, seems to be a relatively small figure. A
2012–13 estimate by the Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS) found that among the 6 to
8 million cats and dogs that enter shelters each
year, around 2.7 million are euthanized. For its
part, MHS takes in strays and surrenders, along
with surplus critters from overcrowded shelters,
each of them microchipped, vaccinated and
given medical/behavioral evaluations before
they are made available for adoption, with fees
FEW MOMENTS IN life are more joy- ous than walking through your front door to the delight of an eagerly awaiting dog. And what could be better than having a
kitten cozy up to you on the couch? Whether
sought out for companionship or for cuddling,
pets are widely believed to provide both mental and physical benefits to humans. But while
much thought is given to the positive aspects
of bringing a new pet home, less attention is
paid to the good that can be done by rescuing
an animal instead of purchasing one.
These small-scale pet rescuers have seriously big hearts. BY CALIN VAN PARIS • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER
Saskia Achilles and her
friends at the Dog Shack.
