Where to find adoptable pets

Category: Dogs, Pets

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Where to find adoptable pets

Updated Dec 8, 2024

Dear Cathy,

Do you have any information on area shelters where you can adopt pets? Originally, I was looking for a sheltie dog, but I am expanding my preference, and just looking for other shelters where I can adopt.

— Char Fiore, Franklin Park, Illinois

Dear Char,

You can search several animal shelters and rescue groups all at one time on Petfinder.com. Enter your ZIP code and the type of dog you want based on size of dog, age, and even whether they are house-trained or not. You can indicate how far you are willing to travel to adopt a dog – within 10 miles or anywhere in the country. Once you provide the search criteria, scroll through the online gallery of pets available for adoption. It might be an easier way to find your next canine companion.

Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptepobfsctd-4cdf42@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal

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Thank you for helping us spread the message of compassionate care and responsible pet ownership!

Cathy Rosenthal (aka The Pet Pundit), CHES, CFE

Animal Welfare Communications Strategist, Writer & Educator

Cathy M. Rosenthal is an award-winning humane educator and author, animal welfare strategist, pet columnist, and speaker who has spent more than 38 years working in animal welfare with local and national humane organizations. She helps people better understand and care for animals through her nationally syndicated My Pet World column and has been the longtime pet columnist for the San Antonio Express-News since 2003.

In addition to her writing, Cathy develops humane education, leadership, customer service, and compassion fatigue training programs for animal welfare organizations nationwide, and has helped raise millions of dollars through grant writing, strategic communications, and program development.

Cathy is the editor and curator of Humane Perspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare and is the author of several books, including Grant Writing Boot Camp for Animal Advocates, The Lucky Tale of Two Dogs, and The Happy Tale of Two Cats, which was the 2026 winner of the Association of Professional Humane Educators’ (APHE) "Educator’s Choice Award" for Best Humane Education Book for Young Children. She also received the 2026 APHE Nathania Gartman Heroes Award for Impact in Humane Education. Her humane education programs in Texas have reached more than 45,000 elementary school children since 2019.

She resides in Texas with her husband, their cat Sterling, and a former community cat, Maddie, who successfully negotiated an indoor living arrangement but still considers human affection highly negotiable.