Sarah J. Blige

What does that doggy in the window cost? The life of another animal in a shelter.

If you’re planning to add a new furry member to your family, NEVER purchase a dog or cat from a pet store. It is true that these animals need good homes as well, but by paying top dollar for that adorable pooch at your local pet store you are most likely supporting incredibly inhumane puppy mills. There are millions (six to eight in the US) of unwanted animals in shelters who are desperate for homes, and if they aren’t adopted, many of these homeless animals are euthanized.

Rescued dogs anxiously waiting for a new home

Puppy mills and kitten factories are like prisons, but these animals are treated far worse than any human inmate, and none of them deserve to be there. Many of these animals suffer from skin conditions and infections, severe malnutrition and extreme psychological distress.  Puppy mills and kitten factories are severely overcrowded with animals finding themselves locked in tiny (and very dirty) wire cages, where they are most often completely neglected and denied even the most basic medical care. These dogs and cats are forced to live in squalid conditions with no socialization or human interaction. Breeding dogs and cats at mills spend their entire lives confined to a tiny space where they are kept almost constantly pregnant and never loved. These unlucky animals are almost always killed when they become too old to continue breeding and are considered useless to the mill owner. If humans were imprisoned and routinely bred this way, it would be called rape and torture, so why do we tolerate this cruel behavior to animals? The puppy mill industry is one of the saddest examples of human greed and barbarity, and this is what you are contributing to if you buy a dog from a pet store or breeder that supports puppy mills.

Crammed cages at a puppy mill

About half of the animals that enter shelters every year are euthanized because nobody wanted them. The animals that are put to death in these shelters are most often those who are more difficult to find homes for, sometimes because of medical issues (like blindness or epilepsy), social problems (timidity or aggression) or even size (it is far more difficult to find a home for a Great Dane than it is for a Chihuahua or Yorkie). In regard to shelter animals with “social problems”, it is important to remember that most of these animals have been put through extremely stressful situations and are having difficulty coping with the trauma. Many of these animals have been abused or abandoned by their families and and have had to literally fight for their lives. Take a look at this heartbreaking video below of a dog that rescued by a very kind, patient person an hour before she was set to be euthanized.

It is very important to properly research the person or organization you are adopting a dog from, as a local rescue was recently scandalized when videos emerged showing the president of the dog “rescue” organization brokering the dogs with little or no concern for their safety and well-being. When adopting an animal from a rescue organization, it is important to check into the following points:

• Is the animal spayed or neutered?
  - all reputable rescue organizations will either ensure the animal they are adopting out is spayed/neutered, or that the procedure is pre-paid at a trusted veterinary clinic.
• Has the animal been adequately checked by a vet? Has it undergone all necessary procedures to become up to date on required shots and in good medical condition?
  - all rescue organizations should provide proof of required vaccinations and shots, including a medical record signed by an accredited vet.
• Does the rescue organization require that you fill out an application and a home check be performed and approved prior to the adoption of the animal?
  - it is important that the rescue group is aware of the living situation an animal is being placed in. Many adoptable animals require a specific environment to ensure they are as comfortable as possible and will become the best companion animal they can be, so it is necessary to perform home visits to ensure each animal is being adopted to a suitable home.
• Does the rescue provide and require you to sign an adoption contract outlining the terms of the adoption?
  -  the adoption contract should state such things as your responsibility to provide the animal with proper care, including love and attention, physical activity and adequate veterinary care, as well as an interest in maintaining contact with the adopter to receive updates on the progress of the animal, and most importantly, an agreement to take the animal back into its care if the adopter finds him/herself unable to care for the pet for any reason.

I volunteer for a local dog rescue organization, The Penny Foundation, that rescues needy dogs from overcrowded shelters and puppy mills in the US and transports them to foster homes in Canada, ultimately placing these animals in their loving forever homes.  The Penny Foundation was once affiliated with Cold Noses, Warm Beds (CNWB); however, upon learning of the shady practices of this so-called “rescue”, The Penny Foundation severed all ties with this group and is currently working to quash any kind of public association with CNWB.

I recently adopted a sweet little puppy from another dog rescue organization called Ocean Dog Rescue. I chose to adopt from this particular organization because they offered more information, including pictures and videos of each adoptable animal, along with extensive medical and behavioral info, than any other rescue organization within 500 miles of Vancouver. Actually, these dogs are all rescued in Taiwan and flown to their new homes in the Greater Vancouver area following pre-adoption screening and approval.   I also chose this organization because China has a shameful animal rights record; strays are routinely beaten, scalded, poisoned and generally attacked, and despite slight improvements in animals rights laws in recent years, there still remain dog fur and meat factories in many parts of China.

I Love Lucy

Lucy is the sweetest, smartest, cutest, most loving little girl, and like so many other needy animals looking for their forever home, she is so deserving of a loving family and a safe place to call home.

What can you do to help the homeless animal epidemic? If you are thinking of getting a dog or a cat, always adopt from a shelter or reputable rescue organization. But the most important solution to this problem is prevention: have your pets spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted pregnancies.