We have a Sunday tradition at my house: we pile into our king-sized bed with our pets and watch football. A king-sized bed may sound nice and roomy — but it can get pretty crowded when we share it with three dogs and a cat.
As my 80-pound dog, Henry, lays on my chest — blocking my view of the TV and crushing my vital organs — I find myself overcome with gratitude that I can give these animals a loving home. Especially since I know shelters are overcrowded with animals who each deserve the love and comfort of family time.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), nearly six million animals entered shelters last year, and 4.2 million were adopted in 2024.
While more than 600,000 were euthanized, the shelter euthanasia rate has dropped 13% over the past five years. At shelters like the Humane Society of Genesee County (HSGC), euthanasia is not considered a solution to overcrowding. The HSGC, which qualifies as a no-kill shelter, houses its animals until they are adopted — which, in many cases, can mean animals spend a year or more waiting for their furever homes.
The longest resident at the HSGC is a five-year-old American pit bull terrier mix named Bently. This dashing fellow sports a tie in his official shelter photo and grins from ear to ear. As adorable as Bently is, he has been patiently waiting for a home since February. 1, 2023. He faces a couple of challenges — as dogs age, they often become less desirable to adopters, and being a black dog also works against him, as they are statistically among the last to be adopted.
Bently also needs to be the only pet in the household — a common situation for some shelter animals.
Foxy, who has been at the shelter since March 2024, is also wary of other dogs, which likely explains why she has spent so long at the shelter.
Montana, another pit bull terrier mix and the shelter’s second-longest resident, was surrendered on July 13, 2023. It’s hard to say why she’s still waiting for her forever home.
Cats, overall, tend to be adopted more quickly, but dogs — especially those who are shy or fearful — are often overlooked.
It costs the shelter just under $4,000 a day to operate — more than $1.4 million annually. Most of that cost goes toward feeding, housing, spaying and neutering, and medical care for the animals. And every dime comes from local donations.
Like many animal shelters, HSGC receives no government funding and is not affiliated with larger rescue organizations like the Humane Society of the United States.
Maybe you already have pets and aren’t in a position to adopt a dog like Bently, Foxy, or Montana — but you can still show them some love.
The HSGC gladly accepts food, blankets, empty pop bottles and cans, newspapers, and, of course, financial donations. Literally every penny makes a difference in the life of a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig — an array of creatures, large and small.
All you have to do is visit geneseehumane.org to learn more about the shelter — and who knows? You just might find someone to watch football with, too.
