In honor of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, here's another great lost-dog reunion story from our partner, HomeAgain. You can help lost pets get home again: Sign up to receive lost pet alerts when a dog or cat goes missing in your area.

If your pet's not microchipped, download and print this coupon for 50% off the cost of microchipping your pet at any Banfield Pet Hospital in October.

Kiki wandered out after a neighbor left the gate open -- from Lupe in Hollister, CA

Our tragedy began around 8:15 Sunday, with a neighborhood kid getting into our back yard for his ball and leaving our gate open. Kiki walked out to the front.

Some kids walking their dogs took a liking to her and took Kiki instead of asking
around to find out whose dog it was. I have
no idea what they were thinking or why they did this.

I walked and drove by several times. I could hear her barking, but I could also hear many other dogs barking too. I wasn't sure if it was her because I could not see her. Kiki is very loving and friendly and plays well with others.

October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, so last month in our newsletter, we asked how your shelter or rescue mutt is smart, savvy and amazing. Here are excerpts from some of your emails.

Ali's two rescued dogs, Gidget and Gracie, participate with Ali in agility. "They are both so quick to pick up on new behaviors and love to work and have fun," Ali writes. "Gidget has been competing for a year. Gracie is still learning, but when she's ready, she's going to be awesome!"

Jeanne takes her dog Bailey to visit a senior citizen home once or twice a week. When Jeanne gets ready to go, she gives her other two dogs special treats. And even though Bailey loves the treats, she has figured out that no treat means she gets to go with Jeanne. "Is that smart or what? I love that dog!" Jeanne says. At home, Bailey is rambunctious, but "when we go to the senior home, she is very gentle with the older people, more so than she is with me and my other dogs -- like she knows she can't be rough with these older people."

October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. We'll be celebrating all month with adopted-dog Happy Tails, ways to find the perfect dog for you, tips for the first 30 days of dog adoption and more. We hope you proud dog adopters will join in as well. After all, what better way to encourage adoption than to celebrate your adopted dog?

Here are some fun, easy ways to celebrate Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month with your dog:

1. Bring dog-themed goodies to your local shelter or rescue group. Thank the staff and volunteers at your local adoption group for all the lifesaving work they do. Bake some cookies in the shape of dog bones (and don't forget to bring some treats for the shelter dogs, too!).


2. Show off your pet-adopter pride. Visit the Petfinder store for a t-shirt,
   or our friends at the Animal Rescue site for a "Rescued and loving it"
   doggie bandana.
   


3. Throw a "Gotcha Day" party. Celebrate the day you "got ya" dog with a party, and ask your guests to bring something to donate to your local shelter or rescue group.


4. Tell others about Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Promote one adoptable dog a day on Facebook or Twitter, or write an op-ed about dog adoption for your local paper. (Check out 10 ways to help pets for Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month for more ideas.)
   


5. Attend an Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month dog walk or other event. You can find an event near you in our event calendar.


6. Make a donation to your local shelter or rescue group. Contact your local adoption group and ask what they need, or donate cash in honor of your adopted dog.


7. Sign up as a foster parent or shelter volunteer. Celebrate your adopted dog by helping other homeless dogs find homes. Sign up to walk dogs once a week during lunch, or take on a foster dog whom you can help find a home for.
   
   
8. Photograph local adoptable dogs for their Petfinder profiles. Pictures are worth a thousand words -- and good pet photos can save lives!
   


9. Post a picture of your adopted dog on our Facebook wall. We may pick it as one of our favorite fan photos!
   


10. Adopt another shelter dog! Check out our dog-adoption checklist for tips on finding the perfect pup for your whole family, then search Petfinder for an adoptable dog near you!