Adoption Monday — Help Brenna find a home in the new year

Welcome to the first Adoption Monday of 2017!

Every other week we team up with the Monmouth County SPCA who joins Bill Spadea in the studio working to help four-legged friends find a new home.

We start the year with Brenna, a 13-week-old from a southern rescue. She has been with the SPCA since she was 8-weeks-old when she arrived with her chihuahua mother and brother. At just three pounds at the time she was too small to be spayed, but she's gained a few pounds and is now ready for her forever home.

"They have lots of puppies in the south since they are not as diligent at spaying and neutering as we are-so lots of unwanted puppies are born there," the SPCA said. "We bring them up here and alter them then adopt them to loving homes."

While Brenna is young and small, the SPCA says she has "plenty of personality" and loves to play. She also isn't afraid to growl or bark and other dogs and show them that she's in charge.

While her dad's breed is unknown, the SPCA said she is not expected to get much bigger than 10 pounds.

Basic qualifications to adopt a dog:

“These are actually pretty simple, and we strive to help adopters find the right fit for their lifestyle and the traits they wish to have in their new pet,” the Monmouth County SPCA’s Lisa Sandor tells us. “Adopting a pet is a lifelong commitment, so finding the right match is very important. Adopters should have a place to live where they are allowed to have pets. Be able to pay the adoption fee and care for the dog you are adopting-a commitment to care for the dog for its life.”

How to adopt:

The Monmouth County SPCA asks would-be pet parents to visit the Homeward Bound Adoption Center in Eatontown or the Adoption Center at the Freehold Raceway Mall to meet its pets. It only conducts adoptions in person, and asks that you please bring all family members. To receive more information, call the adoption line: 732-542-5962.

More information on adopting, the requirements and fees is at the Monmouth County SPCA’s website.

Adoption Monday is sponsored by the Monmouth County SPCA, which provided the following info on its mission and history:

The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1945 to care for the community’s homeless, neglected and abused animals. The MCSPCA is not affiliated with any other shelter or welfare organization. We are not affiliated with, nor do we receive a majority of our funding from the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, or the Associated Humane Societies, Inc.

Our mission is to protect and advocate for all animals. We are dedicated to enforcing animal cruelty laws; providing a safe haven for homeless, abused and abandoned pets while they await adoption; reducing pet over-population through spay/neutering; and cultivating their humane treatment through education and service as a valuable community resource.

Our vision is to be established firmly with our own unique identity throughout NJ and the animal welfare community as a leader in all things related to animals in Monmouth County and the people who care for them. We will be responsible for ensuring that all animal abuse is prosecuted and will increase our support of campaigning for the rights of animals in NJ. We will be a strong partner with other animal welfare organizations throughout the state in order to develop and share best practices, and to work together to make NJ a place where every animal is treated with respect, kindness and love.