So I realize that I have been neglecting this BLOG over the last few weeks. I will get to that later!! Today I want to talk about something new I am learning about and that is "PET ADOPTION".
My Lab Cross (who by the way has been the most amazing dog ever) is 14 1/4 years old now. She is almost perfect health with the exception of having very bad arthritis and I know there is not much time left before she will no longer be able to carry herself. Last week she had an incident in the kitchen (the tiled floor is very hard for her now to walk on) and she hurt her front leg. She was limping pretty badly and I thought, "OK this is it. She's not going to be able to come back from this", but after a couple days of rest it improved and she was back to walking up the street, tail wagging, sniffing everything in sight. If I am to be perfectly honest there is a part of me that really wishes she would just die in her sleep so I don't have to make the decision to put her down, but then another part of me is grateful for all the "extra" time I'm getting with her. She still makes us laugh! She may be old but she hasn't lost her personality.
So knowing that she doesn't have much time left it has started me thinking about getting another dog because let's face it -- me without a dog is just not me! I decided years ago that when the time came I would choose to adopt a new dog rather than purchase a puppy. Although I love puppies (who doesn't?) and I actually believe it's easier to train a dog while they are a puppy instead of an older dog who may have been through some bad stuff already, I just can't rationalize getting another puppy. My current dog could have been a puppy mill dog. I have no idea! I bought her from a pet store. I wasn't as aware at that time of how many puppy mills there actually are, how horrible these dogs are treated, or how very many dogs are out there in shelters or foster care. In some ways I feel my ignorance in the past towards these issues has helped create them. I can't in good conscience buy another puppy, and I hope there are many others who feel the same as I do. ADOPT A PET! SAVE A LIFE!
Since I have never adopted before I obviously know nothing about it, and it's not only a learning process but a bit of a challenge too -- one I will readily take on. Last night I sent an email to one of the many dog rescue organizations to get information on one of the dogs they have up for adoption. I asked them if it's possible to meet the dog to see if she might be a good fit for me. Just meet! Not borrow, take for a walk, play fetch with -- just meet! They responded back to me this morning (very quickly) and said, "Yes, it is possible for you to meet the dog but you first must fill out the below application." So I thought, "How hard can this be?"
WOW!
It's tougher than a job application!!
It's not that I don't fully understand. These organizations spend a lot of time and money (and love) rescuing these animals and they want to ensure they go to a great "forever" home. However, the application is a bit intimidating. Not only do you need a reference from your vet but also three other references who they prefer not to be family. I am assuming these references need to have knowledge of your pet caring abilities, but besides family who see you all the time interacting with your animals, who else would? The neighbours you bump into on walks? A friend who visits you a few times a year, and is usually too scared of your dog to pay much attention anyway? The postman who starts shaking as soon as the dog looks up at him? And if that doesn't seem worse than a job application how about the fact that they want to schedule a home visit before the adoption to make sure the home, yard, fence, etc. is good for the animal? The only thing they don't seem to ask for is a DNA sample to make sure you're not a convicted felon. Maybe that comes later?
I'm not complaining, however and I don't want to deter anyone who is looking at adopting out of the idea. Like I said, I fully understand why they feel the need to be completely thorough in the adoption process. One of the saddest (and maddening) things I have seen since looking through ads for dogs up for adoption is the very high number of senior dogs that are looking for homes. I can only understand two instances whereby the displacement of a senior dog is acceptable and that is the death of their owner or a disabling sickness/impairment. A dog is a commitment for life, and it really angers me that people will get rid of their dogs in the years they need your love, care, and attention the most. People really need to look at their lives before purchasing or adopting an animal and say, "No matter what happens I will care for this living being who depends on me for as long as I am capable". Capable meaning alive and not seriously disabled to the point where you can no longer care for the animal let alone yourself. Any other reason is just an excuse and completely unnecessary in my opinion. You need to move? Find a place that allows pets! You just had a kid? Teach your kid to be kind and loving towards that animal. They got old and have started peeing in the house? Get off your fat ass and take the dog out more often and find yourself a good cleaner that will get the smell out. Please people, please, please think before purchasing any type of pet and make sure you're committed for life. Also, make sure you do your research on the type of animal/breed you plan to get to ensure it fits your lifestyle. If it doesn't find one that will or just live without a pet.
I am just at the beginning of the process and still need to complete my application. Once finished I hope to meet this cute, little beagle I saw online. She may not be the one for me, but I know the one is out there! I'm sure the application process is the worst of it. Then I get to meet PUPPIES!!
Can life get any better than that?
:)
My Lab Cross (who by the way has been the most amazing dog ever) is 14 1/4 years old now. She is almost perfect health with the exception of having very bad arthritis and I know there is not much time left before she will no longer be able to carry herself. Last week she had an incident in the kitchen (the tiled floor is very hard for her now to walk on) and she hurt her front leg. She was limping pretty badly and I thought, "OK this is it. She's not going to be able to come back from this", but after a couple days of rest it improved and she was back to walking up the street, tail wagging, sniffing everything in sight. If I am to be perfectly honest there is a part of me that really wishes she would just die in her sleep so I don't have to make the decision to put her down, but then another part of me is grateful for all the "extra" time I'm getting with her. She still makes us laugh! She may be old but she hasn't lost her personality.
So knowing that she doesn't have much time left it has started me thinking about getting another dog because let's face it -- me without a dog is just not me! I decided years ago that when the time came I would choose to adopt a new dog rather than purchase a puppy. Although I love puppies (who doesn't?) and I actually believe it's easier to train a dog while they are a puppy instead of an older dog who may have been through some bad stuff already, I just can't rationalize getting another puppy. My current dog could have been a puppy mill dog. I have no idea! I bought her from a pet store. I wasn't as aware at that time of how many puppy mills there actually are, how horrible these dogs are treated, or how very many dogs are out there in shelters or foster care. In some ways I feel my ignorance in the past towards these issues has helped create them. I can't in good conscience buy another puppy, and I hope there are many others who feel the same as I do. ADOPT A PET! SAVE A LIFE!
Since I have never adopted before I obviously know nothing about it, and it's not only a learning process but a bit of a challenge too -- one I will readily take on. Last night I sent an email to one of the many dog rescue organizations to get information on one of the dogs they have up for adoption. I asked them if it's possible to meet the dog to see if she might be a good fit for me. Just meet! Not borrow, take for a walk, play fetch with -- just meet! They responded back to me this morning (very quickly) and said, "Yes, it is possible for you to meet the dog but you first must fill out the below application." So I thought, "How hard can this be?"
WOW!
It's tougher than a job application!!
It's not that I don't fully understand. These organizations spend a lot of time and money (and love) rescuing these animals and they want to ensure they go to a great "forever" home. However, the application is a bit intimidating. Not only do you need a reference from your vet but also three other references who they prefer not to be family. I am assuming these references need to have knowledge of your pet caring abilities, but besides family who see you all the time interacting with your animals, who else would? The neighbours you bump into on walks? A friend who visits you a few times a year, and is usually too scared of your dog to pay much attention anyway? The postman who starts shaking as soon as the dog looks up at him? And if that doesn't seem worse than a job application how about the fact that they want to schedule a home visit before the adoption to make sure the home, yard, fence, etc. is good for the animal? The only thing they don't seem to ask for is a DNA sample to make sure you're not a convicted felon. Maybe that comes later?
I'm not complaining, however and I don't want to deter anyone who is looking at adopting out of the idea. Like I said, I fully understand why they feel the need to be completely thorough in the adoption process. One of the saddest (and maddening) things I have seen since looking through ads for dogs up for adoption is the very high number of senior dogs that are looking for homes. I can only understand two instances whereby the displacement of a senior dog is acceptable and that is the death of their owner or a disabling sickness/impairment. A dog is a commitment for life, and it really angers me that people will get rid of their dogs in the years they need your love, care, and attention the most. People really need to look at their lives before purchasing or adopting an animal and say, "No matter what happens I will care for this living being who depends on me for as long as I am capable". Capable meaning alive and not seriously disabled to the point where you can no longer care for the animal let alone yourself. Any other reason is just an excuse and completely unnecessary in my opinion. You need to move? Find a place that allows pets! You just had a kid? Teach your kid to be kind and loving towards that animal. They got old and have started peeing in the house? Get off your fat ass and take the dog out more often and find yourself a good cleaner that will get the smell out. Please people, please, please think before purchasing any type of pet and make sure you're committed for life. Also, make sure you do your research on the type of animal/breed you plan to get to ensure it fits your lifestyle. If it doesn't find one that will or just live without a pet.
I am just at the beginning of the process and still need to complete my application. Once finished I hope to meet this cute, little beagle I saw online. She may not be the one for me, but I know the one is out there! I'm sure the application process is the worst of it. Then I get to meet PUPPIES!!
Can life get any better than that?
:)