Deciding to become a pet guardian is not a decision to be taken lightly. For the purpose of this blog I will assume that you and your family have had the 'are we able to care for an animal' conversation, complete with ‘do we have the time, money and appropriate lifestyle.’ The importance of these conversations cannot be understated. Caring for a pet is a long-term monetary and life commitment.
In light of that, if you are ready to accept a pet into your home, I highly encourage you to adopt from a no-kill humane society, city pound or rescue group. These organizations work tirelessly to assist the silent animals in our community. There are literally hundreds of animals that need forever homes, and it is due to the hard work of numerous people that while these animals wait for their new start, they are warm, fed and cared for.
5 important reasons to adopt a pet
1. You will support a no-kill movement
Millions of healthy, adoptable animals are killed in North America every year. A movement has started to end this practice, to make killing by euthanasia, a thing of the past. Consider the amount of animals you see listed for sale in the newspaper. Then go to kijiji and look at the pets section. The number of healthy animals looking for new homes rivals the number of puppies and kittens being sold by various ‘breeders’. The current system isn’t working, and many animals are losing their lives as a result. By adopting a pet you are saving a life and supporting the continuation of the rescue industry. It’s simple, the more animals we adopt, the more questionable breeders we put out of business.
2. Adopting feels GOOD
The human-animal connection is powerful and undeniable. In our lives this is evident on a daily basis. We take pause to watch the handsome dog walking his owner, we reach out to connect with a horse in the pasture and feel a moment of awe when a bird lands on our table looking for a crumb.
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| A little sparrow landed on my hand looking for a treat |
These moments make us smile, even if just for a second, and it is this connection that makes adopting a pet just feel good. The clear reason for this is that you are making a positive change in your community, you are giving back. More subtly however, are the moments that develop as you and your pet begin to trust and bond. These moments are fleeting at first; your dog might briefly look at your face while out on a walk, your cat might start to purr under your stroke. These are typical dog and cat behaviours, however they are also indications of trust and hope. When these moments occur with your newly adopted pet, they will feel good!
3. You will enter a network of support
The goal of a rescue organization is not only to place a pet in a suitable home, but to ensure the match is successful and lasting. When rescue organizations make a commitment to save an animal, they make that commitment for life. It is for this reason that submitting an adoption application is a lengthy process, as ensuring you are the right home for that pet takes time! With this in mind, once you have adopted a pet, you enter a system of support in your rescue community. As a new pet guardian you have access to a network of people that have years of experience with various animal challenges. Hurdles such as socialization, nervousness or separation anxiety can be worked out with assistance and advice. Various tools such as cages, carriers and long lines are often available to help solve problems. Many services are offered at discounts (such as training classes) by dog professionals in order to help support the rescue industry. Quite regularly, adoption processes flow smoothly and without trouble, but it is nice to know that if a concern arises; you have a caring individual available to call.
4. More bang for your buck
I frequently say, every time you spend your money, you are making a vote. In the case of rescuing an animal you are saying 'no' to animal mills and the mass production of pets. In addition, you are supporting a humane method of pet population control,that being, spay and neutering. In theory, over a six year period, two dogs and their puppies can produce 67,000 new dogs. Adorable little puppies and kittens in pet stores are being sold for hundreds (even thousands) or dollars. You can understand why getting into the animal mill business might sound appealing. The reality however is nothing short of horrific. Animals used for the purpose of breeding are kept in a constant state of pregnancy or nursing. Their cages are small and filthy and they are often scared of humans due to a lack of contact and socialization. Most of these animals are ill. The picture is not pretty, but I assure you, it is occurring more frequently than you think. Where there is supply, there is demand. By adopting a pet and supporting the organization from which you adopt, you are helping rescue more animals in need, you are voting to spay and neuter pets and you are putting pet factory farms out of business.
An important point to also note, is that when you adopt a pet you are receiving an animal that has a clean bill of health. Adoptable pets are fixed, vaccinated and free from parasites. Of course your adopted pet will still require regular veterinary care, but you can rest assured that the routine procedures have been taken care of by a professional.
When working at a no-kill shelter some years ago I met an eleven year old, surrendered dog named Duchess. She was a sad soul that growled in her kennel, unsure of her new home and surroundings. She was mostly black and her piercing eyes reached out almost desperately. Several times a day I would sit with Duchess in a large fenced yard. She ignored me for weeks, walking with her head down using slow and deliberate steps. Any interaction on my part was met with a growl and a stiffening of her body, so I sat and waited. The connection came one day out of the blue. Duchess decided she could trust me and dropped a ball in my lap. She literally transformed into a new dog and we played together for hours. My message with this story is that the benefits of adopting a pet will likely not be as immediate as buying a puppy, however, with patience and understanding they are just as significant. If what Gandhi said is true, that the greatness of a community and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated, then adopting a pet is beneficial to all of us. I urge you, support a rescue, make a vote, save a life; adopt a pet!
Resources for beginning your adoption journey:
Petfinder: petfinder is an online resource listing animals available for adoption in your area
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