Have you ever adopted a new pet? Where did you get your pet from; the pet store, a friend, a breeder, a newspaper ad? Did you even consider adopting a rescued animal from an animal rescue or shelter? Probably not, and you’re not alone.
Consumers tend to have the perception that animals who land with rescues or in shelters ‘have something wrong with them’, whether it be medical or behavioral issues. In fact, however, such is not the case. In fact, most animals ending up in such a situation are there because of a situation that has occurred in their owners life such as: divorce, a death in the family, bankruptcy, moving to a place that won’t allow pets, etc. Some of these animals are surrendered to shelters, most are just abandoned to fend for themselves.
According to The Humane Society of the United States, of the 8 million pets that enter animal shelters and rescue groups every year, approximately 3 million of these healthy and treatable pets are euthanized due to a lack of adoption. While there has been steady progress on the issue (the number of animals put down was approximately 24 million in the 1970s), the continued euthanasia of our best friends and family members is a national tragedy.
The euthanasia of pets by animal shelters and animal control agencies comes at an enormous moral and economic cost. Each year public and private agencies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on animal care. Increasing the adoption rate from rescues and shelters would diminish labor, feeding, and physical infrastructure costs.
Adopting a pet is a life-changing and enriching experience. When adopting a pet, people are obtaining companions that give them unconditional love, affection, and attention. Adopting a pet from a shelter not only saves an animal’s life, but is also good for our own well-being as research shows that owning a pet has many positive psychological and physical health benefits. The animals rescued from shelters know you’ve saved their lives, and they typically treat their rescuers with lifelong loyalty and affection. And, adopting from a rescue or shelter makes space so that another animal may be rescued in his/her place.
To help get this message out to the public at-large, the Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund are joining with the Ad Council on a national multi-media public service campaign. The goal of this effort is to increase shelter pet adoption by showing people that shelter pets are loving, well-adjusted animals who are homeless through no fault of their own. HomeFurever is proud to endorse and promote this effort. Click HERE to learn more about this wonderful initiative, and how you can help increase animal adoptions from rescues and shelters.
Pets Forever at Home Fur-ever 