Celebrate Shelter Pets Day – December 5, 2024

History of Celebrate Shelter Pets Day

Celebrate Shelter Pets Day started in 2010 as a collaborative effort among the Humane Society of the U.S., the Ad Council, and Maddie’s Fund®. The event, which started on Facebook and was called “Shelter Pets Take Over Facebook Day,” has grown to include all social platforms, and over 100 pets and their owners are now involved.

Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States (H.S.U.S.) fights the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together, with millions of supporters, the H.S.U.S. takes on puppy mills, factory farms, the fur trade, trophy hunting, animal cosmetics testing and other cruel industries. Through its rescue, response, and sanctuary work, as well as other hands-on animal care services, the H.S.U.S. helps thousands of animals every year. The H.S.U.S. fights all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind its name: a humane society.

Maddie’s Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy over ten years and continues to inspire them today. The Foundation has awarded over $265 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S. Maddie’s Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility.