Nowadays most people don’t get pets for the same reasons they did many years ago. Pets were meant to protect, hunt, slay and catch mice in factories. Pets are now more like family and have been bred to our specific needs: they should look a certain way, have longer/shorter legs, a flatter face or not, and so on. There are thousands of different types of breeds, but what about the mutts, the mixed breeds, the ones without a home?
There are many homeless animals all over the world. These poor fur babies just want a mommy or daddy to call their own; to have their very own person to love and to whom they can bring joy; to be the one waiting with radiant love and jumping up and down with excitement when seeing you after a long day; to bring purpose to your life.
Before considering to adopt a pet, there are a few things to do:
- Make sure the whole family agrees on having a pet, you do not want the animal to feel rejected and unloved.
- If you are looking for a specific breed, look up for that specific rescue group. There are many rescue groups on Facebook and the web.
- Pick an animal that will suit your lifestyle and your personality.
- Find out as much as possible about the animal: its history; does it like children; is it an aggressive animal; what is its health condition.
- Take your family and pets (if possible) for a visit and see if they all get along.
- Most of all give the abandoned pet a chance. Some of them have lost their trust in humans and need a little more love, but once you have their heart, it’s the best reward any human can get. There’s no words to describe the love you will receive from your rescued pet, it’s unexplainable.
The benefits of adopting/rescuing a pet versus buying a pet:
- Ask questions when buying a dog from a pet store, you might be supporting a cruel puppy mill.
- You can’t buy love, but you can adopt it from an animal shelter (and usually for a lot less money than buying a dog from a breeder or a pet store).
- Most “pre-owned” pets are already house-trained.
- Shelters and rescue groups often include vaccinations, microchipping and spaying or neutering in the adoption fee.
- At an animal shelter, you can find a dog or cat to fit your unique personality (even if you’re a little nutty).
- It feels great to know that you saved a very special life.
It is our responsibility to look after our animals and to make sure they are spayed or neutered. Don’t just save a life by giving a pet a home, but make sure you are not the one having to find a home for many more unwanted little lives. And most importantly – enjoy your fur baby, they will surely enjoy you!
