RISE, A Modern Guide for the Purpose Driven Woman Winter 2014 | Page 15

You know what I LOVE? I love that its “IN” to be socially responsible! I love
that the cool thing to do is “go green”, eat organic and clean, buy “made in
the USA”, support our local businesses, and give back to our communities! I
hope these things NEVER go out of style. We have a long way to go to fix
some of the messes we have made, but these evolving social movements give
me hope, and I can think of one more we should be adding to the list:
being socially responsible when it comes to pet ownership.

Furrrr
Babies!

What does that mean? It means being a responsible pet owner, and it
means if you aren’t able to be, then choosing not to own a pet in the first
place. Being a responsible pet owner means a lot of things, but I’d like to
focus on just one of those at the moment: Choosing to adopt/rescue a pet
instead of buying one from a pet store or breeder.

Socially Responsible
Pet Selection

by Dana Eldridge

It’s time to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
This is a decision millions of Americans face each year, but too many of us
have some common misconceptions when it comes to shelter animals that I
think it is finally time to clear up. Here are 3 common myths about adopting
a shelter or rescue animal, and a little clarification:

It is estimated that between 4 to 6 million
HEALTHY adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized every
year, simply because there are too many.

3. Shelter animals have emotional
issues and might be dangerous or
hard to handle. False and true... Let’s
dig a little deeper. First of all, any
2. You can’t find pure breed animals
shelter or rescue organization worth
in shelters. FALSE. The truth is 25%
it’s salt (and even most that aren’t) do
of shelter/rescue animals are purebehavioral testing. The biggest reabred!!! That’s 1/4 of all of the animals
son for this is that if they adopt out
needing homes; that’s MILLIONS of
a dangerous animal and something
purebreds waiting for homes! Also,
happens, they could be held responthey won’t cost you the THOUSANDS sible. They don’t want that, trust me.
of dollars a breeder or pet store
When you visit the shelter you want
will charge you. For example, most
to ask about the specific animals you
will typically charge a few hundred
are looking at, find out their back
dollars and for that they will do
story, and ask what potential issues
a comprehensive medical exam(s),
they think that animal may have, if
1. Shelters and rescue groups don’t
spay/neuter, microchip, and get them any. Most shelter animals are grateful
have puppies/kittens. FALSE. While I
through at least a few rounds of
for a 2nd chance at life that they will
highly recommend making sure you
shots. Breeders and pet stores usubend over backwards to make you
have the time and patience for a
ally do about half of that or less for
happy. Some animals have behavioral
baby animal before adopting one,
much, much more money. So, where
issues including bad manners (never
if you are dead set on getting a
should you look? Google! Simply
trained properly) or anxiety (scared
kitten or puppy there are PLENTY in
type in (breed type) rescue (your city of people, loud noises, etc.). I’d like
shelters. For kittens there is more of a or state). For example: Labradoodle
you to take a minute to picture WHY
“season” when you are more likely to Rescue Nashville. I would also just
an animal may have developed
find them (spring, summer, and early
search the breed type and “rescue”
these issues. Go ahead, think about
fall) but you can still find them all
(without the city or state) because a
it. They may have been abused,
year in shelters; you just might have
lot of rescue organizations cross state neglected, or had to live life as a
to do a little more legwork in the off
lines!
stray, among many awful possibilities.
season. Dogs don’t have a season;
Will you make the socially responsible If that doesn’t make you want to give
you can and will find a puppy easily
decision the next time you welcome a them a warm home, some love, and
anytime. Where should you look? Try
new four-legged member to the family? help them work through those issues
your local shelters first, but you can
Come on, it’s the “IN” thing to do! then simply ask about and look for
always use petfinder.com as an adthe more well-adjusted animals, there
ditional resource to help you!
are PLENTY of them as well.