Daniel Konicek Staff Writer
In the recent weeks, the veterinary program has advertised pet adoption of a variety of pets, which they often start doing to gain interest when they have too many animals. There are never enough homes for the pets that desperately need them, and local shelters are waiting for people to volunteer.
Pet care is a responsibility that, unfortunately, many give up on. According to the American Humane Society, about 3.8 million animals taken into shelters were euthanized in 2008. About 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized, cats more than dogs because they are more likely to lack owner identification. Shelters lack the resources to take care of the volume of animals that come through every day, and there are not enough people stepping up to adopt.
The problem is double for pets that are more exotic than a housecat. Animals that take particular care, like anacondas or ferrets, will be typically released into the wild as a perceived act of mercy. This can ruin the ecosystem is more often than not a death sentence for pets.
When adopting a pet, it is important to consider the source. Adopting a pet from a shelter is always a good choice, giving an animal a second chance and helping reduce the nation’s pet overpopulation. Many of the pets in shelters are animals lost from their owners. Pet owners should be sure to have proper identification for their pets to maximize the chance that lost pets can be recovered.
When buying a pet, there are some things that need to be checked on to be sure the breeder is responsible and caring. Being sure to check that a pet is healthy and well socialized is vitally important. Is the mother present? Do they have vaccination and vetinary records? Does the breeder have knowledge of the pets’ possible genetic disorders? These are all important things to consider when buying a pet.
As overcrowded as shelters are, there are still worse places for pets to be. Animal fighting, abuse, cruelty, and neglect are all issues animal rights activists are fighting to stop. However, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, are actually against the domestication of pets in all forms, and when animals are left in their care they will be euthanized. The American Humane Society and local animal shelters are the proper place to take stray pets.
In any case, animals everywhere are waiting for a good home. If someone is ready and able to add to their family, it is important to have all the knowledge necessary to provide a safe and loving environment.
