Animal shelters need monetary donations, but we must also provide good homes | Pet Peeves
Dear readers,
Many of us read about shelters in the news or see their advertisements on television, but we do not think of visiting these shelters to adopt our next dog. Shelters need our donations of money it is true. But they also need our support when it comes to supplying good homes for these dogs and cats.
If you are considering getting a cat or dog, go by your local shelter. Visit them multiple times and see what they have available. If you do not find the right one on the first visit, do not give up. There is a lot of turn over at these shelters. New pets are coming in all the time.
If you have a dog or cat that you are considering breeding, think again. There are plenty of dogs and cats out there without you making more. Get your pet neutered by the time he is six months old, and you will be helping your pet and your community.
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The ugly truth is that unwanted pets are put to sleep. The reasons pets are not wanted can be simple. Pets have been taken to shelters because they jump up on the owner, or the owner does not have time to take them for walks. A common complaint is that the owner is overwhelmed with life. They may have a new baby in the house or they may have lost their job. The owner may be moving and is unsure what their future holds. Life is just too hard or busy to have to worry about being responsible for a pet.
I don’t think these are good reasons to put an animal to sleep, but if the pet stays too long at the shelter, that is what will happen. By giving these animals a chance when you are looking for a pet, you are potentially saving a life and opening up a slot at the shelter for another pet.
This week heralds a new year! It is a time of new life and new beginnings. If you are in the market for a pet, check out your local shelters in the next few weeks or months before you make your decision.
On a different note, I have found time recently to watch some of those veterinary reality shows. While they have been on the television for years, I have never had time to watch them. If you enjoy animals, these are really good shows. There are several available. “Secrets of the Zoo”, “Critter Fixers: Country Vets”, “Dr. Oakley: Yukon Vet”, “Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet”, and “The Incredible Dr. Pol”.
They are fun to watch and great public relations for the veterinary community. If a young person in your family is interested in being a veterinarian, have them watch these shows so they can see some of the day-to-day activities. All veterinarians will tell you, like any reality show, it isn’t as easy as they often make it look but being a veterinarian is definitely as fun as they portray it.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Animal shelters need monetary donations and good homes
