During this cold winter season, the animal shelters around our area are doing more for our animals, trying to help and care for as many animals as possible. Changes in barometric pressure can affect an animal’s behavior, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. Your pets may become agitated and afraid, or due to wind or storms, they may become overexcited and curious, ready to pick up scents in the air and explore.
On the other hand, many animals that don’t have homes during this time, abandoned or just strays, will have to search for shelter to keep themselves warm, and searching for resources such as water and food will become more difficult. Water freezes, and scraps become scarce.
Adoption is so much more needed in these times, as many people are searching to buy purebred animals when shelters are struggling to take care of all these animals in need of homes. Ms. Fitzgerald, SHS reading specialist, gives a few words about her adoption experience and why she thinks it’s so important to adopt. She tells us a little about her two cats. One Her friend found on a rural trail outside of town, and the other she got from a student who couldn’t handle caring for another animal. She talks about how she was happy to adopt rather than buy. She says, “There are a lot of problems with buying and over-generational breeding. There are so many purebred animals that have multiple significant health issues.” She explains top health issues, how many animals are put into breeding and fighting rings, and how many animals get left out on the streets after being kicked out of the rings. She says, “I’ve had two friends who have gotten dogs from some of those rings, and they both had heartworm, which takes a lot to treat, and it’s very expensive. And till this day, those dogs still have issues due to their past.” Upwards of 16,000 dogs are estimated to die every year from dogfighting in the US.
All dogs who survive will be rehabilitated and put into shelters like Dane counties Humane Society

There are as many as 70 million stray animals in the us. Resources such as and recommend to try to do your part such as keeping an eye out for stray animals and taking them if possible or handing them into a local shelter where they will be taken care of, but sometimes we can’t get near stray animals for health reasons or many other reasons if possibly you can try to help shelter them outside providing them with coverage or food and water if possible. Due to personal reasons, many of us aren’t able to do this. If possible, find another person who could take the animal into their home or a shelter, just as Ms. Fitzgerald said. “you should adopt because there are plenty of animals out there that need places to be, and shelters can’t do it all.”
For the Christmas season, the Dane County Human Society is also holding four different profitable events such as the 2025 Madison Firefighters Charity calendar, humane holidays at Mounds, photos with Santa at Nerdhaven Arcade on Sunday, December 25th, 1-3 pm and their last event Toto’s gala the DCHS biggest event of the year being held at the Monona Terrace on Fri. march 14th 2025 from 5:30 pm – 11 pm where over 400 supporters, sponsors, and friends come together to celebrate there love for animals. They will be featuring 3 separate events – 6:00-7:00 pm – Cocktail Hour, – 7:00-9:00 pm – Dinner and Presentation and – 9:00-11:00 pm – After Party