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Disney left a life-long
impression on me when, as a youngster, I viewed the dog
pound scene in Lady and the Tramp. Mournful mutts howled
out a pitiful rendition of "Home Sweet Home,"
which nobody but the most callous could sit through
dry-eyed. The pound was portrayed as a cruel place manned
by heartless dog-catchers. I vowed never to step foot in
one, not even to save the life of one of the rejected
creatures. Adopting a pet under such sad conditions would
certainly place a cloud over the day. Could I ever leave
completely happy with the dog I chose, knowing that dozens
were left behind in misery?
My answer today is a
resounding YES! From personal experience I have learned
that animal shelters can indeed be the very best place to
find your companion. As a volunteer in college I found
that humane societies and animal shelters can be places of
compassion, and the animals, while lonely, are happy,
healthy, and not nearly as desperate as Disney made them
out to be.
There are plenty of good
reasons for bringing a dog home from "the
pound." In this article I'll discuss just a few of
them.
Typically, when a family
decides to adopt a dog, they check the pet store, the
newspaper, and maybe the neighborhood for a puppy. More
often than not, this spells disaster. While unarguably
cute, puppies are not for everyone. Puppies, no matter
what breed, take lots of time, money, and patience. Unless
you are prepared to deal with urine spots on the carpet,
sleepless nights, and hundreds of dollars in pet-related
equipment and veterinarian bills (not to mention replacing
chewed up clothing), you are not prepared for a puppy! In
fact, this is the very reason animal shelters are filled
to capacity. Puppies grow up fast and their newness wears
off, and all too many owners find themselves too frazzled
to continue. Thus, Fido ends up behind bars for no fault
of his own. The vast majority of dogs in shelters are
there because people weren't thinking about the time,
effort, and money involved in raising a dog. (Other common
reasons are families relocating, owner's deaths, or
divorces that leave a dog in the mix.)
Think twice before bringing
home a pup. An older dog is calmer, will pick up
housetraining (and other obedience training) faster, and
have outgrown the frustrating chew stage. Perhaps the best
thing of all is that they are more predictable; what you
see is what you get. With adult dogs the size, shape,
skills, and temperament have already been determined.
Depending on the shelter, they may even have a pet
history!
Another reason to avoid
pet-finding in pet stores and newspapers is that these
places are largely supplied by backyard breeders and puppy
mills, notorious for breeding unhealthy animals in
inhumane conditions. The best way to shut down these
operations is to avoid supporting them. While they may
boast purebreds for low prices, a mixed breed mutt has
much lower incidence of health defects than poorly bred
purebreds. (Adoption days at places like PetSmart are run
by shelters, and not supplied by puppy mills. Furthermore,
most shelters now have web sites so you can start your dog
search on-line. Petfinder.org lists dogs by specific
breeds, a great tool if you know what you are looking
for!)
Cost is also another reason
that shelter dogs come out on top. For a nominal fee, you
bring home a dog that is up-to-date on vaccinations, has
had a general health exam, and has been sterilized. Often
the fee may include the cost of microchipping and
licensing. Sometimes you even score coupons for free food
and equipment on Adoption Days! Keep in mind that no dog
is ever "free." You should always have a new pet
checked by a veterinarian to avoid the spread of disease.
Having your pet spayed or neutered is a pet-owner's
responsibility not to be postponed. Heartworm treatments,
chew toys, and other necessary equipment add up. It's hard
to beat the all-inclusive fee offered by a shelter.
But perhaps the best reason
to adopt a shelter dog is the values it teaches your
children. Bring home an older dog, and you send the
message that all creatures have intrinsic worth, not just
the "cute babies." Giving a dog a second home
teaches another fabulous lesson, and dogs who have
suffered losses often bond faster to their new people,
eager to belong again. Children appreciate knowing about
second chances. Finally, when you bring home a shelter dog
you save the life of a dog whose only alternative may be
euthanasia. 60% of animals placed in shelters meet this
fate. By including children in this important
decision-making process, making careful choices, and being
a responsible pet owner, you teach children the best
lesson of all.
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