I have spent my entire life owning pets. From my first dog Spot, an ugly terrier mix with an under bite that jumped our backyard fence to play with my sister and me, to hamsters and snakes. In the past year I have said goodbye to two wonderful animals. My big black tom cat Tyrone and a "lovable doofus" of a dog named Morgan (after Morgan Le Fay from the stories of King Arthur). Tyrone was 20 years old and had been the undisputed king of our house forever. Morgan was 15 years old and was a German Sheppard, Rottweiler mix. She was dumb as a rock but was the sweetest dog I've ever known. Owning and caring for a parade of animals over the years has been a rewarding experience.
Pets enrich your life in so many ways. They depend on you for all their basic needs but in return give hours of companionship and unconditional love. There is nothing like a welcoming bark and snuggle when you return from work at the end of the day. Just spending time petting an animal has been show to lower your blood pressure and who doesn't need their blood pressure lowered after dealing with work, traffic, and the aggravations of a busy day. Pets give you a reason to keep going when things get tough, they are there to comfort you when you are down, they can be workout buddies, and they keep your feet warm at night. I really miss Tyrone on cold winter nights when my husband is out-of-town. He slept at my feet and always kept them toasty warm.
Now where do you find these treasures? In all my years of pet ownership I have never purchased an animal from a pet store other than fish and mice. Even then I only use a small local pet store that does not deal with puppy mills and other more sordid aspects of pet breeding. Every animal I have owned has either been a stray or was rescued from a shelter. In my opinion, these are the only two options for obtaining a new four-legged member of the family. One of the dogs that I own right now, Kokopelli, was found "hitchhiking" in New Mexico while we were on vacation. She was abandoned as a puppy at a campground. When we pulled into the campground and opened our car doors, she jumped in, made herself comfortable in the back seat and looked at us as if to say what took you so long. She was meant to be a part of our lives. Most people do not find their pets this way but you can help save an animal and add an important member to your family by checking out animal shelters and rescue groups.
Every year three to four million animals are euthanized at shelters across this country. Each animal that is adopted is a life saved. People mistakenly believe that animals at shelters have been left there due to behavior problems or for something that the animal has done wrong. Not true! Most are left for very human reasons such as divorce, people moving, death of an owner, or just not being able to care for the animal. With a little advanced planning, you can find your new best friend at a shelter or rescue operation and make both of you very happy.
There are a few questions you need to ask yourself when getting ready to adopt. Do you have the time needed to care for an animal? What are the rules about pets where you live? Can you afford to care for an animal? Do you have the space required for the pet you are considering? Are you willing to care for this animal for the next ten to twenty years? If you can answer all these questions positively it is time to think about the kind of pet you are looking for. Do you want a large dog or a small one? Do you want an older animal or a kitten or puppy? Do you want a cat or a bunny rabbit? Decide and then begin your search.
The internet is a wonderful resource for learning about the shelter or rescue operation that you are considering. Every state has a branch of the Humane Society and they have a very informative website that will explain every aspect of pet adoption. If there is not a Humane Society near you, the ASPCA also operates shelters across the country. These facilities make sure the animals up for adoption are healthy and have no behavior problems. They often include the cost of spay/neuter in the adoption fees and sometimes even obedience classes. Follow up veterinary care may be included for free or at a reduced price. Employees at these shelters are dedicated to helping you make a good match between your family and the pet you adopt. Having all the people or even other animals in your household meet your new pet is a good idea before bringing him/her home.
Suppose you have your heart set on a purebred animal. Twenty five percent of animals left at shelters are purebred. If you are looking for a specific breed and are unable to find one at either of these two places there are rescue groups dedicated to the rescue of nearly every breed of dog or cat. Once again a search of the internet is the first place to look for these groups. Each of these groups is run differently and will have different requirements for the adoption of an animal. Research them completely and talk to the volunteers about all their rules. Asking, your local veterinarian is also a wonderful source of information.
When you have found the animal that you want to make a part of your family, you will need to fill out some paperwork and pay the adoption fees. These fees usually run from $50 to $125 dollars, much less expensive than any pet store. Some shelters even have free adoptions for cats over 3 years old. There are so many animals out there in shelters and rescue programs that anyone should be able to find the perfect companion for their particular circumstances. Please consider using one of these options when searching for your next animal.
Pet stores are always a viable option when looking to get a pet but these places are businesses. They are in it for the money. Making a good match between pet and owner is not a priority for them. You are not guaranteed a healthy animal. I had a friend that purchased a puppy for nearly $700.00. Within twenty-four hours of bringing the puppy home it got very ill. It had a very contagious disease called parvovirus which was then passed to their older dog. Hundreds of dollars in veterinary bills later, the puppy died. Their older dog happily survived. They were able to get their money back from the pet store but it was a heartbreaking experience. Nearly every dog sold in pet stores has come from some kind of puppy mill. Google "puppy mill" and research the horrendous practices that produce sick, deformed and genetically fragile animals. Every purchase of one of these dogs is supporting this horrible industry.
I support the ASPCA and give a $1 donation to the local shelter for every paid order on my website. It is my way of giving a little back. Check it out and help me to help the animals.
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Darlene Bunevac is the owner of a successful online gift shop. To check out our full service online store go to http://www.darbysgiftsandmore.com for a safe and user friendly shopping experience.
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