"Sheltered" Is The Best Breed

So earlier this week, my night class started volunteering at the local animal shelter. It always breaks my heart to see how many animals end up in the shelter. Puppies and kittens are born in shelters all of the time, and although they are more likely to be adopted first, they are also more likely to be returned to the shelter. When people adopt young animals, they do not always know what they are getting into, or they get tired of the animal once they have lost their "cuteness". It is upsetting to see that happen on a daily basis. So many people think that when they are adopting a new pet, the animal HAS to be a baby. Why? There are so many deserving full grown, and even senior animals in the shelter that may be more awarding to have then a young and untrained animal. Puppies and kittens require training and cycles of expensive vaccinations. Adults mainly need booster vaccines. Babies animals are also destructive and messy.

Just as a side note, today my boyfriend and I came across a stray dog in his neighborhood. He was so friendly and he was obviously a pet, because he had a collar and when i caught him on a leash, it was clear that he was leash trained. we walked around the neighborhood for about an hour talking to residents and asking if they recognized the Pit mix. As the number of "nos" increased, I started feeling so horrible because I knew if i didn't find his home I would have no choice but to put him in the shelter and hope that his owners would find him. Just as I was about to call animal control, a neighbor drove up and asked if I was trying to find the dog's onwers. She said they lived across the street from her, and that he gets out all the time. The owner was apologetic and greatful, but he did say that he was planning on finding the dog a new home because he could not handle the constant escape tactics. That goes along with knowing what you are getting into!!

It is sad how many pets get lost and end up in shelters. If they aren't claimed by their owner by 10 days, they become adoptable to the public. However, there is no guarantee that they will be adopted any time soon. What is worse is the fact that so many animals live months in the shelter, and sometimes even die in the shelter.

There are a few messages that go along with this post: Spay and Neuter your pets, Know what you are getting yourself into ( pet ownership is a life long commitment), and also take the few extra dollars to get your pets micro-chipped!!! (REMEMBER almost any animal can be micro-chipped; i.e: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rodents, livestock, horses, and many other types of animals)