Pet Names

Seeing hundreds of nameless animals coming through the door each year, Second Chance Humane Society Shelter staff have had to be creative with new names for all the different pets.  They try to use names that reflect the personality or the appearance of the pet and they always want to use names that reflect the positive attributes of the pet.  Names like “Bruiser”, “Cyclops”, or “Snarky” do not necessarily increase our chances of being adopted. 

Sometimes the staff use seasonal names, for example I was named Dasher and my siblings were named Rudolph and other various Santa’s reindeer names.  Hopefully I will be adopted soon before the holiday season is over or people may think that I just dash all over the place. 

It is also important that our names are unique because some of our staff have been around a long time and when you mention “Sadie” for example, senior staff can be confused between one of at least 5 Sadie’s that have been at the shelter in the past five years.

Petfinder, the most recognized website listings for lost, found and adoptable pets across the country, recently came out with their master list of 2011 pet names, including the most popular names for dogs and cats -- and extra categories for the weird ("Purr-etzle") and the celebrity-based ("Katy Purry"). Petfinder pulled both common and kooky names from their database, the largest one online of adoptable pets, and you won't see many surprises among the top names; "Buddy" held the top spot for dog names for the 5th year in a row, while "Lucy" took top honors among cats (and 4th place with dogs).

Other names popular with both species: "Max" (2nd for dogs; 9th for cats); the possibly-Twilight-themed "Bella" (4th for dogs; 3rd for cats); "Daisy" (3rd for dogs; 7th for cats); "Charlie"; and "Molly." And it looks like the tradition of naming -- or letting the kids name -- black-and-white cats "Oreo" remains alive and well, with the name coming in 6th on the cat list. (Black cats made a slightly poorer showing, with "Midnight" ranking 10th.)

Don't think people didn't get creative with their pet names last year, though. Petfinder's list also includes selections submitted by more than 300 shelters across the U.S., and features such naming gems as "Blue Sparkles McGillicutty," "Fluff Dog Millionaire," and "Jimmy Chews." (Looks like somebody lost a pricey pair of pumps to her adopted hound...)

And celeb names like "Brad the Pit [Bull]," "Cindy Clawford" (and the canine equivalent, "Cindy Dogford"), and my favorite, Barry Meow-nilow, also show up on Petfinder's list.

Think sticking with classics like "Sadie" and "Tiger" is a good idea? You might be right. Then again, "L.L. Bean" is a shelter pet who really benefited from his unusual moniker. After being featured on a local news spot in Wisconsin, where he had been living in a shelter for over a year, news travelled all the way to Freeport, Maine of his plight and he was adopted by an L.L. Bean employee and now lives happily in Maine. 

Yeah, I’ll stick with Dasher for now and perhaps my new family that comes to adopt me will think I am just Dashing…

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Photos by Real Life Photographs.