The Truth About Why We Should Adopt Our Pets–Not Hope

[funkietoo]

This craigslist posting is titled ‘Adopt Shelter and Rescue Pets!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/pet/1879401692.html

This animal shelter manager has laid out the truth of what happens to animals in shelters and rescue groups–both municpal and non-profit. Please take the time, and have the courage to read it in its entirity. There are many ways we can all work towards improve the save rate of animals and increase pet rentention. If interested in the ‘how’, please provide your email and maybe we can start a community discussion.

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[voodoo]

That was so hard to read, but sometimes the truth hurts. I got my two kitties from PAWS ten years ago and can’t imagine my life without them. We have been through several moves, life changes, and yes, some behavioral problems, not to mention a few vet bills, but I committed to care for them for life, and I meant it.

It kills me to hear people say they can’t keep a pet for some reason of inconvenience. Taking an animal into your family requires work and adjustment from everyone involved. Pets are not houseplants – they need more than food and water to be happy members of the household.

By the same token, people should carefully examine their readiness for pet ownership and also look at why they want to have an animal companion. It is a big responsibility and should be considered as such. </dismount from soapbox>

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[JoB]

before you take any pet into your home you should ask yourself whether you are willing to make the best possible home for your pet or whether you think your pet will make the best possible home for you.

it’s that love thing again.. and if you aren’t willing to love unconditionally .. just say no.

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[hammerhead]

AMEN

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[WSeaFam2]

That breaks my heart…We scooped up one of our cats on HWY 99 after he was tossed out of a moving car, and the other we adopted from an event in the junction. One we have had for 12 yrs and the other 7, and they are our children. However like children there are days when I question why I put up with one screaming in my face at 6 in the morning when I could be sleeping in, or why I have everything on my nightstand thrown off every night so I will get up and play with them. Then I look into those sweet faces which love us, never fail to be there when we are sad or feel ill, and don’t judge us when we eat choclate covered anything in bed. I know I need them alot of days more than they need me :)

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[miws]

Definitely a tough, but worthwhile read.

I read it yesterday, shortly after funkietoo posted it, but it was just too hard to comment on at the time.

FWIW, I would recommend clicking on the link again, then clicking on the “Best of Craigslist” link.

Not sure exactly how that works, but I think if it gets enough votes, it me be archived.

Mike

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[Sue]

Probably shouldn’t read the link at work if you don’t want to be crying at your desk like I was yesterday.

This was a hard read because I had to go through this years ago. I love, love, love cats. But I have allergies. Some of them are manageable – like with my cat now, I blow my nose constantly. I can deal with that. But some reactions are very, VERY bad. So many years ago when a friend was trying to adopt out a siamese kitten, I asked if I could take her for the weekend to see how the allergies worked out, and if it didn’t, could she take the cat back and try someone else. She agreed, and that’s the only reason I agreed to take the cat.

After about 36 hours with the cat, my eyes were swelled shut, I was wheezing and short of breath. Allergy meds weren’t touching this. I had to get this cat out of my house as it was seriously detrimental to my health – not just a matter of being inconvenient. Called the “friend” to take the cat back and was told no, wasn’t going to happen, I was now stuck with the kitten (and one less friend).

This was before the days of readily-accessible internet. I sent an email out to my coworkers (hundreds of people) asking if anyone knew anyone who could take the kitten. No takers. I called every no-kill shelter, rescue organization, etc. in the NYC area that I could find. They either said no, they had no room, or they had the craziest, unyielding rules as to when they’d take new animals, only one day a month, etc.

My only remaining option was the shelter where I knew I had to sign her over and give permission to euthanize if they couldn’t find a family for her in a short period of time. This was one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do in my life. I had that kitten for 4 days and I cried for a month over it. I’m crying now over it. I have no idea if that kitten was adopted. Everyone wanted to reassure me that no, she was a siamese kitten, and EVERYBODY wants a siamese kitten, so I should imagine her romping with her new family and happy. I told these people that the reality was that I could have just as easily sent her to her death, alone and scared. That was a hard decision to live with, and still is.

Will some still judge my decision? Perhaps. Just know that not everyone who turns an animal over to a shelter is clueless as to the reality of what the outcome may be.

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[2krazy4words]

good article! I agree w/ it’s author “breeder all should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter” … I would include every person selling pets or adopting pets. Anything to make people STOP and think BEFORE taking on the responsibility of pet ownership.

People pick on those of us that view our pets as our kids, yet the fact is that is the reality. They require the same time, care, and money any child would. Like voodoo and WSeaFam2 said … we need to know and accept the responsibility BEFORE we choose to bring a pet (or child) into our home.

Sue, I am so sorry for your experience. No “friend” would ever put someone through that. That is the point this article made. People don’t think about the effect on the people left to deal with it … in this case, that would include you.

thanks funkietoo. I’ll cross post on FAF & FCAT facebook pages

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[Gina]

I shared a house at one time with a renter that announced that I needed to toss my cats outside because she was allergic. She would allow me to feed them. I handed her the for rent ads from the Seattle Times.

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[funkietoo]

My posting title should read:

The Truth About Why We Should Adopt Our Pets–Not Shop (no idea why I typed ‘hope’ instead of shop)

Gina: You made me LOL!

Sue: I certainly would not judge you. There are legitimate reasons that people need to surrend their animals–and these people are generally very sad/have tried everything else. Shelters and rescue groups are needed so these animals have a safety net and second chance.

I firmly believe we all need to work together to improve pet retention and unplanned birth prevention through low priced and/or free spay/neuter for animal companions that already live with people. If anyone would like to talk more about ideas and how to’s, I’m willing to set up a meeting place for those that are interested.

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[ALS]

No judgment from me, Sue. In theory, shelters and rescues exist to serve people like Sue in extenuating circumstances. Or people who become terminally ill or disabled and need special care and can no longer care for their animals. Unfortunately, our society has such a “disposable” mentality when it comes to LIVING BEINGS that people abuse the shelter systems and give away animals for the dumbest reasons.

As someone who dedicates a big part of her life to animal rescue, you wouldn’t believe the “excuses” I’ve seen. My favorites (insert eye roll) were “cat kept eating houseplants” and “dog kept getting pregnant.”

I wish I was joking.

Rescues and shelters could go back to their original purpose of just serving the truly needy if only everyone would:

1. Think long and hard about getting a pet in the first place, including what that animal will grow up to be (in the case of a puppy or kitten), and whether their lifestyle will still be conducive to that pet in 5, 10 or 15 years. Think about how your life may change regarding moving, jobs, travel, kids, etc. Can you say for sure that the pet will fit with those plans? If not, don’t get a pet just yet.

2. Making a commitment to that animal, for better or for worse. No one ever said pet ownership was easy. When your animal acts out, forgets its housetraining or becomes ill, you owe it to yourself to fix or learn to live with those problems. If you don’t want those problems, what makes you think someone else will? No one ever walks into a shelter asking for a dog that bites or a cat who doesn’t use the litterbox.

3. Spay and neuter! Real men have their own balls. Your dog will not miss his. And your female does not need to “experience motherhood” to be fulfilled. Your kids do not need to witness “the miracle of birth” via the family dog either. I hate it when people say they want their dog or cat to have “just one litter.” Imagine if every pet had “just one litter!”

4. Be responsible about where you obtain your pet. Obviously the shelter or a rescue is the best place because you are saving a life. But if you’re going to give your money to a breeder, at least do your research and make sure that you’re funding a breeding program that was designed to improve a particular breed – and not a back yard breeder, a designer breeder, or worse – a pet store. A lot of people think they are somehow “rescuing” the sad puppy in the pet store, when they’re really just giving the store money to buy more puppies to sell.

Sorry, I tend to get a little soapboxy on this topic as it’s near and dear to my heart and something I dedicate my life to on a daily basis. But seriously folks – 4 rules to live by noted above. If everyone did that, we would not have a problem with animal overpopulation, period.

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[JoB]

ALS

the soapbox is fine!

if it saves one pet from being recycled back to shelters or rescue organizations or just left on the roadside.. it is well worth being preached it.

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[westcoastdeb]

Recycled pets could be the cornerstone of a great marketing campaign. Wanna go green? Get a recycled dog/cat/bunny/fish/whatever!

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[hopey]

Here is a blog post about dogs in shelters written by a well respected canine behaviorist, Patricia McConnell, which includes actual research and statistics. It is a shorter version of an article she wrote which is published in the current issue of Bark magazine. The longer version has not been made available online.

http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/breeders-versus-rescues

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[Author]

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