The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are taking place in Paris, France, and U.S. animal shelters are coming up with ways to tie in the games to homeless animals. 

Animal shelters are overcrowded and are seeing an increase in intakes and a decrease in adopters. In hopes of caching the eye of more adopters, shelters are naming homeless pets after Olympic competitors and even hosting their own "Dog Olympics" to show off the adoptable pets. 

Shelter animals are all striving for the same goal - a forever home. 

As people from around the world come together to compete for medals, animal shelters hope their communities will come together and adopt homeless dogs and cats. 

Olympic Athlete Namesake

Carlton County Animal Rescue has named their most recent intake puppies after USA Olympic athletes- Simone, Katie, LeBron, and Noah. They are settling into foster homes and will be available for adoption on August 9. Learn more about these puppies and all the adoptable animals at the shelter here. 

The excitement around the puppies and their namesakes seem to be working as countless people comment that they are interested in adopting one of the adorable pups. 

Go for Gold Adoption Special

Brandywine Valley SPCA is offering a "Go for Gold" $24 adoption special through Aug 11. The no-kill shelter cares for 17,000 animals each year and wants to find loving homes for each. The adoption special occurs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the 2024 Paris Olympics. All adult cats (6 months+) and adult dogs (1Yr+) have a reduced adoption fee of just $24.

Add another "player" to your family by adopting one of the shelter pets listed here.

Dog Olympics

Humane Society of Sheboygan County held their first "Dog Olympics" on July 28 during their Ales for Tales event. All the proceeds went to care for shelter pets. The following four games added to the event and were a big success. 

• Treat Toss- dog who catches a treat from the farthest distance wins.
• Small Dog Race- dogs under 30 pounds race to finish line.
• Obstacle Course- dogs race across hoops, tunnels, and balance beam.
• Pie Eating Contest- first dog to finish a pup-pie wins.  

The shelter thanked all who attended and for everyone who worked hard to make the event happen. Check out the shelter pets who are still waiting to find their biggest fan here. 

Gold Medal Favorites

Orange County Animal Services hopes to find homes for their dogs and cats that have been at the shelter the longest by lowering their adoption fee and featuring them as "Gold Medal Favorites".

These long-stay pets will also show off their athletic and cuddle abilities to find their perfect match.

The shelter wrote, "Dogs and cats that have been at the shelter for four weeks or longer will qualify as “Gold Medal Favorites,” and will be easily identifiable via a gold sticker on their kennel card. These pets will have a reduced adoption fee of $10. Throughout the month, we will feature these up and coming Olympian dogs and cats, competing in a sport and showing off their medals."

A handsome fella named Boss won the gold medal in "Treat Taking", while Onnica took gold in a tough competition in "Sweetness". See all the adoptable pets here. 

Head to your local shelter and be a champion for a homeless pet. You will gain a new best friend and save lives. Everyone wins when you adopt, so adopt don't shop!