Why Adopt A Shelter Animal?

In the 1990's adopting a pound hound was not very desirable. These dogs were mutts; many people thought they were sick and plain ugly. People wanted purebred dogs, they would purchase from breeders. Most mutt's fate is predetermined because they are not purebreds.

When was the last time you visited your local county animal shelter? Both mutts and purebred dogs are desperately waiting for an angle to save their lives.

Unfortunately, many mutts and purebred dogs are killed in the thousands around the country. These animals are dumped, neglected, abused and emotionally destroyed. I have asked myself "When did we become a dumping society?" People dump their problems on others, some dump their parents in a nursing home, and some people dump their kids on family members.

Reason to adopt a shelter dog.

Most of these dogs have lived in family environments and can make great family pets with little transition time. Adult dogs are already potty trained and they are used to kennel living. The fee is much less to adopt than shop, dogs are up-to-date on shots, fixed, and are microchipped. When you rescue a shelter dog, you are actually saving two. Some shelters are so overcrowded that they euthanize dogs the day they receive them. This happens most to senior dogs, sickly dogs, and breeds specific laws.

Many dogs and cats are dumped at shelters. The saddest dogs and cats are seniors, they cry when they see their owners leaving. Not every owner who surrenders his or her dog is a heartless human being; unfortunately, the percentage is very low. Most surrendered dogs have been abused their entire life.

Shelters receive minimal funding and implementing a penalty fee for dumping your dog would benefit shelters.

How to help a sheltered dog

If you cannot adopt shelter animals, the next best thing people can do for these animals is volunteer their time. For example, Miami-Dade Animal Shelter currently has 400 dogs and hundreds of cats in the shelter, but they only have a handful of employees. Volunteers play a vital role in the lives of these dogs and cats. Volunteers play, train, groom and most importantly give affection to these deserving animals.

Many dogs are labeled as "rescue only"; this means that only reputable rescues can pull these dogs. Most rescues cannot pull dogs without having a foster commitment. Offering to foster dogs saves two lives. Dogs in foster homes flourish in a family environment and become more adoptable. When your foster is adopted, it is a rewarding feeling because your family played a vital role in the dog's behavior.

Rescues also need transports. For example, Pitbulls are banned in Miami-Dade. If you go to the shelter, you will see hundreds of Pitbulls waiting to be rescued before they are killed. Many rescues pull pits from Miami-Dade and need the dog transported to their facility. Transporting a dog also helps save two lives.