Causecast

by CLAIRE GRINTON, Contributing Writer

Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted a dog. I asked for a dog for every birthday and Christmas ever since I knew how to talk, and I’m pretty certain that my parents still have the very first Christmas list I wrote out on my own, with “puppy” on the very top with at least two of the p’s backwards.  
Sadly, my dad was allergic, which meant that it was either Dad or the dog. Begrudgingly (but only a little bit, I swear!), I chose Dad, but I never gave up on asking anyway. I’ve since moved out and have finally started to settle into my adult life. Of course, I immediately considered getting the dog I’ve been waiting for my whole life. 

Finally, this April, I welcomed a furry little love into my life. I met Squeegee in person after months of pictures and preparations, and I instantly fell in love. Now, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without her. 

But the truth is, many people end up giving up their pet or abandoning them. Though this has always been a problem, the economic downturn has found the number of abandoned or surrendered animals rising rapidly, keeping rescue groups and shelters even more packed. 
For those ready to take the plunge with a pet adoption, there are a whole lot of things you need to consider before you bring one home: 

1. This is a life-long commitment. These animals need forever homes. Do not underestimate what you’re getting yourself into—the number one reason people surrender their pets is because they didn’t understand the extent of the time, money, and responsibility their pet would require.

2. There are a lot of costs associated with an animal, not just the initial purchase. Even the healthiest of animals needs to go to the vet at least once a year, just like humans get an annual physical. Most pets will end up with a broken limb, an infection, or a more serious medical problem at some point in their lives. Then there are the vaccinations, the license fees, the kennel costs, the food and the toys—suddenly you realize you’ve spent far more on your pet than you ever expected. These expenses require planning ahead.  

3. It is your responsibility to teach your pet to be a civilized part of your community and your responsibility to intervene when they aren’t well behaved.

4. Each breed has a different temperament, energy level, and medical history that you should be aware of before bringing them into your home. Additionally, some animals aren’t compatible with children, other pets, etc. and that must also be considered before making a commitment to the animal. 

These points account for the four main reasons animals find their way to shelters. You still in? Good, because while pets are a big commitment, they can also be wonderful companions and sources of joy in your life. 

Once you’ve decided to adopt an animal, you have to decide where to find your pet. There has been a fair amount of coverage about the horrors of puppy mills, but there’s a lot more to consider when finding an animal.

When it comes to cats and dogs, breeders are able to provide a very specific story of your pet and what you can expect of their life. While they might not have the little ones long enough to know their individual behaviors, they are well versed in the general temperament, needs, and behaviors of their breed. They also intimately know the parents of your animal, so they can predict any future medical issues with some level of certainty. However, these animals are purposely brought into the world for profit, while many other healthy and adoptable animals are abandoned every day.

Animal shelters, such as the ones endorsed by the Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are a great place to find potential pets. Shelters find adoptable animals through a variety of sources; they are sometimes dropped off by owners who no longer want or have the ability to care for them, but more often than not, they have been abandoned. They are often found by Animal Care and Control or other similar groups that seek out animals in need, and occasionally they work in tandem with individual rescue groups that do not have the resources necessary for their current lot. These shelters spend time working with the animals to socialize them, get them the necessary vaccinations and medical care, and always spay or neuter animals before adopting them out.

The Humane Society and the SPCA also play a larger role in the animal rights community. The Humane Society educates the public about safety issues for pets, fights for legislation to protect animals used in testing and cloning, and campaigns for ethical practices. While some animal shelters will euthanize older animals, those who haven’t been adopted after a certain amount of time, or those requiring medical care that will cost more than an allotted amount of money, one of the SPCA’s goals is to eradicate the need for euthanasia of adoptable pets.

You can also find your new pet through a rescue group. These groups tend to specifically rescue one single breed (as in this one for Labradors), though you may find groups that house any number of breeds. These animals tend to be in better physical and emotional health, as most of these programs rely upon foster homes and some kind of home life. For this reason, those running the operation have more of a history with the animals and thus know the animals extremely well. They often require home visits and ask to have your entire family (both human and animal) to meet the pet before they approve your adoption. They are dedicated to forever home placements, but when times get tough, they can’t always afford to be so selective and often have to rely upon shelters.

Pet stores can offer you a wider range of animals, but are fraught with a number of problems. First, many of the animals that make their way to pet stores come from puppy mills and other troubling upbringings, as well as those that irresponsible or “backyard” breeders will not stand behind. Second, pet store “guarantees” often allow you to bring a “defective” animal back and exchange it for a new one, but this almost always ends in euthanizing the first animal. Lastly, there are already so many animals in shelters and with rescue groups who need homes, we ought to provide for them first before we add to the demand for pet store animals. 

The exotic pet trade has been booming in recent years, often to the detriment of the animals and the homes to which they go. While exotic pets are exciting, important details about the pets are rarely shared in the exotic pet market. This results in some not-so-pleasant surprises, such as diseases and behaviors not suited to domesticated life. With so many animals already looking for homes, your care is much needed already without looking to exotic animals.

Finally, if you’re adopting a pet from an individual, it is incredibly important to get any and all paperwork for the animal. You must ensure that the animal has had all of the necessary inoculations. Keep in mind that even if you’re getting the animal from a friend or family member, like any animal you adopt, they may still have behavioral problems that you aren’t aware of or aren’t prepared for.

You must spay or neuter your pet. The reason many shelters are filled to the brim with animals in need of homes is because of stray, runaway, or abandoned animals mating. Without proper care, many of these young animals die or live unsocialized lives; only the lucky few end up in shelters where they may or may not be placed in homes. Even if you think you’ll always keep your animal away from others of its kind, spay or neuter your animal anyway; you never know what could happen if they manage to get out one afternoon or if you find you have to surrender your animal. Take responsibility, as they cannot. 

You must register your animal. Yes, it costs a little money and there are guidelines to which you must adhere, but these guidelines exist to help control the animal population and protect against unintended births. Additionally, the money often goes to animal care programs and shelters, helping the animals still waiting for homes. 

Consider microchipping your pet. Unfortunately, some of the pets who end up in shelters are animals who have run away and weren’t unable to be matched back up with their owner. When these animals are found, they are sometimes euthanized, other times put in shelters. Ensure that the funds used at these shelters are used for animals in need and get your animal microchipped, allowing them to be tracked back to you. 

So if you’re considering adopting an animal, take into consideration where you get your pet, and be sure to take all precautions to protect and care for your animal.

If you just want to get involved helping protect animals and raise awareness for ethical pet practices, consider volunteering your time or donating to groups like the Humane Society or the SPCA.

Photo by emildom75, flickr.