FEATURE
By Suha Jafri
Several billion animals populate the earth . It is alarming to see how many of these several billion are homeless , stray animals that were once domestic pets or just grew up in the wild instead of a loving home . Two main factors are responsible for this ; lack of adoption and lack of effective regulation of animals on the streets .
Every day when I walk the streets , I see dogs and cats , running from cars and people , looking for food and shelter . Every time I spot one , I wonder why they are not in someone ’ s care ? Adoption of stray animals is a major issue today . People are highly sceptical of taking home a furry friend from a shelter or foster home for a variety of reasons .
ADOPT DON ’ T BUY !
Think about it . If every one looking to get a pet took home a furry little friend from a shelter or took in a rescue , how many lives could be saved ? So many animals would be saved from being euthanized , getting killed by a car or from starving . So despite knowing all this , why do people buy and not adopt ?
Adoption has various stigmas and myths attached to it . Some of the common ones are :
Myth 1 : I don ’ t know what I ’ m getting
Most potential adopters feel they do not have sufficient information about an animal that is from a shelter or foster home . Whereas in reality , the shelter staff and volunteers or foster parents are more than able to answer most questions about the pet . Whether the pet was a stray or surrendered by the owner , what kind of behaviour the animal has , the likes , dislikes and any other personality traits . In reality , one can know more about such pets rather than breeders who mostly sell the pet at the age of three months . In fact , working with shelter staff and volunteers can be a great way to figure out the best match for you and your home .
Myth 2 : I can ’ t find what I want at a shelter
While it ’ s true that adopting a purebred from a shelter can require more patience than going to a pet store or breeder , it can also lead to a better match for you and your family , for the reasons described above .
Many cats and dogs enter shelters each day . Some shelters even maintain waiting lists for specific breeds ; so don ’ t be afraid to ask ! The breed of the pet determines only a few traits the rest are all determined by the love and care your pet receives at home . Any small or large pet that is looked after properly will be a happy and friendly addition to the family so what breed they are plays only a small role .
Myth 3 : I can get a free pet , so why pay an adoption fee ?
Lets be honest , there is no such thing as a free pet !
Many people get their pets for free or at low cost and most pets are obtained from acquaintances or family members . A US report says that pets acquired from friends make up more than 30 per cent of pets surrendered to shelters .
While getting a ‘ free ’ pet may seem like a bargain at first , you are then responsible for veterinary costs that shelters and rescue groups usually cover , including :
• Spaying / neutering
• Distemper vaccination
• Rabies vaccination
• Heartworm test
• Flea / tick treatment
• Microchip
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