Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is BFFL Programs Manager Michelle Ortiz dressed as Santa Claus, holding Peppermint.
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is BFFL Programs Manager Michelle Ortiz dressed as Santa Claus, holding Peppermint.
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is King, a senior dog at LAPS.
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is King, a senior dog at LAPS.
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is King, a senior dog at LAPS.
In a festive twist, the collaborative event planned for Saturday morning at the Petco on San Bernardo, organized by the Laredo Animal Protective Society and Best Friends for Life, took an unexpected turn when Michelle Ortiz, programs manager for Best Friends for Life, stepped into a new role. When the planned Santa Claus canceled, Ortiz donned the Santa suit herself, delighting children and their furry companions.
Despite her small stature and stuffing blankets under her oversized Santa suit to resemble a bowl full of jelly, Michelle Ortiz’s dedication shone as she engaged with potential adopters and volunteers, reflecting the shelters’ mission to pair pets with their forever loving homes.
“I’ll do anything for these animals,” said Michelle Ortiz, clearing her face of fibers from the fake Santa beard. “I’ll do anything to help them and to make it a merry Christmas for them. It’s out of passion.”
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Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is King, a senior dog at LAPS.
During the holidays, adopting a pet can seem like an appealing gift option. However, local shelters emphasize that it is a commitment extending beyond a festive novelty. While both the Laredo Animal Protective Society and Best Friends for Life acknowledge that a pet can make a great Christmas gift for a family, they strongly advocate for responsible adoption.
“The responsibility is to not give pets as gifts to people who don’t even know they’re getting one,” Michelle Ortiz said.
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“It is a commitment of several years, not just a few months,” said Luisa Ortiz, shelter manager of LAPS. “It is a commitment and, aside from that, if there is no connection between the person receiving the pet and the pet itself, there is a higher chance that they will end up back at the shelter.”
According to Michelle Ortiz, contrary to widespread belief, LAPS and BFFL do not typically experience a significant increase in holiday adoptions. When there is an increase, it can often be attributed to families having more time during the holidays to visit and meet animals. Instead, the focus is on the spirit of generosity, with Laredoans making substantial donations.
“Even when January rolls around, we don’t see exaggerated numbers in returned adoptions,” Luisa Ortiz said. “You will sporadically have people here and there surrendering pets, but not ones that were adopted here.”
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is Peppermint, a dog at LAPS.
A robust adoption process at LAPS and BFFL, which is implemented year-round, ensures a lasting bond between pet and owner, reducing post-holiday returns and stray animals. Both encourage holiday adoptions to be undertaken by families who want a pet, rather than getting one for someone else.
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“We always ask if it’s going to be a gift and if the person receiving it knows,” Luisa Ortiz said. “We do these screenings because we want to make sure that families are ready for the pet. We give them time with the animals in the play area, especially dogs. They’re out of their kennels, unleashed, playing around and interacting with the family. That way, they too can see if it’s going to be a good fit.”
Michelle Ortiz explained that adopting a cat involves a slightly different process, since they reside at Cat Village, a free-roaming shelter. There, visitors can walk in and interact with cats, which can sometimes result in a cat “choosing” a human.
Another measure both shelters take to ensure animals find their forever homes is through fostering. Potential adopters can take animals for a couple of days, typically over the weekend, to observe how they react in an unfamiliar environment. Luisa Ortiz noted that this is when dogs truly reveal their personalities. Meanwhile, cats, accustomed to an environment resembling a house, typically face less of a challenge when adjusting to a new home.
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is BFFL Programs Manager Michelle Ortiz.
The rewarding and fulfilling nature of animal welfare work deeply motivates both women. For Luisa Ortiz, who has been part of LAPS for eight years, seeing animals arrive in desperate conditions ignites her natural instinct to help.
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“They come to us in pretty bad shape — skinny and full of ticks and fleas,” Luisa Ortiz said. “There are those who’ve been run over and are gravely injured. Some need amputations, while others have lost an eye. With cats, they tend to come in worse shape because of their size, making them an easy target for bigger animals.”
Michelle Ortiz, who has been part of BFFL for three years, echoed Luisa Ortiz’s sentiment, adding that witnessing animals regain health and secure loving homes is a driving force behind their commitment. They serve as a voice for animals who otherwise wouldn’t have one.
“We do this because we love these animals,” Michelle Ortiz said.
She added that these animals are capable of loving humans back the same way, highlighting the therapeutic benefits pets offer and noting a demand from people seeking companionship and bonding. While this demand is year-round, it increases even more around the holidays.
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Both women acknowledged the stark realities of unwanted litters and the critical role spaying and neutering play in controlling the stray population. They remain hopeful that if pet owners care for their animals by spaying and neutering them, as well as keeping them safe and up to date with vaccinations, eventually there won’t be any animals left to spend Christmas in a shelter.
Laredo shelters advocate for responsible pet adoptions during the holiday season. Pictured is Gypsy, a cat at BFFL.
Community involvement is essential to the sustainable operation of these shelters. Both women emphasize the need for volunteers who can offer spare hours to assist with the myriad daily tasks at the shelters, allowing them to engage directly with visitors and accurately answer questions about the personalities of each animal.
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“The more hands we have, the better,” Michelle Ortiz said. “There is a lot of work to be done, and we have a lot of animals to care for. (Volunteers) are always needed, not just during the holiday season, but year-round.”
Donations serve as a vital lifeline for the shelters. Whether monetary or in-kind, these contributions are crucial in funding essential necessities, performing needed repairs at the shelters and providing medical care for animals.
To donate, visit checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/LAPS for the Laredo Animal Protective Society and checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/bffl for Best Friends for Life.
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