When you think of pet rescue, maybe you think of “hardcore” animal advocates who dedicate their every waking moment to saving the world’s animas from abuse, neglect or extinction – and you’d be mostly correct. However these heroic individuals and organizations mean so much more to the welfare of the ALL pets. This week, Wisconsin Pet Care completes its dog adoption series by highlighting the importance of animal rescues, animal welfare organizations and shelters.
Our readers know that adopting a dog or cat is a big commitment – one that not everyone takes seriously. As a result, pounds, rescues and shelters have a steady stream of boarders. Unfortunately, there’s only a small window of opportunity for these animals to get adopted because if there are no takers, the next step is typically euthanization. So if you ever find yourself asking whether adopting a rescue animal is a good idea, remember this: You’re not just saving one dog’s life, you are saving two – the one you take home with you and the dog who takes the valuable real estate inside your dog’s former shelter cage. This is his only chance to win over a forever family of his own.
Who are the people that help these pups find peace with a deserving family? There are a few different types of rescuers, but the one most people are familiar with is their local Humane Society. For example, Elmbrook Humane Society, as well as Safe Harbor Humane Society, have been matching two-leggers with four-leggers for generations. They make the adoption process simple in many ways. First, they take the time to analyze the personality of the pet (so they can be sure that Fido or Fluffy is a good match for their new pet parents). Second, they may spay and or neuter all of their pets before they are even put up for adoption, or give you options on low cost spay and neuter clinics. And last, but certainly not least, the Humane Society vaccinates all adoptees, providing a peace of mind to new moms and dads (a clean bill of health, right from the start!). Of course, these pets do come with a nominal charge, but it is well-below what your veterinarian would charge for the same services.
Another type of animal rescue are those that are breed-specific. Pugs, Huskies and Chihuahuas – you name it, there’s likely a local organization that specializes in their welfare. If it is important to you and your family to adopt a specific breed, this is definitely the way to go – just don’t forget to follow the same guidelines that we laid out last week for finding quality breeders – clean cages, room to run and toys to play with are all signs of a good animal rescue.
Naturally, there are also animal rescues that are not breed-specific. If you are looking for a family dog that will be grateful for shelter and love, take a peek at what your local animal rescue has to offer. Organizations, such as JRs Pups-N-Stuff have made it their mission to find misplaced dogs and cats happy homes.
You clearly have many options when it comes to adopting a new pet. We urge you to take the time to figure out which is the be best for your family – and for your new family member.
