If you’re like many pet lovers, your life pretty much revolves around your pets—and happily so. Their happiness and wellbeing is as important as your own, and in many cases, they are the reason for your happiness and wellbeing. Coming home to wagging tails, purring rubs on your legs, and chirping or singing welcomes from feathered friends, well, it can only make you feel better than you did before you opened the door to their enthusiastic welcome.
The human-animal bond for good health is a scientifically proven fact. It’s hard not to add to the menagerie every time a winsome face or animal in need comes across your radar. When you’re looking for a new companion it can be a difficult decision, with an abundance of rescue organizations, shelters, and online options like PetFinder.com to “aid” in your search. A quick perusal of craigslist and your head is spinning.
There are breed specific rescues, species specific rescue (cats only, dogs only, horses only, pigs only, etc.), even age specific rescue like OldDog Haven. What’s a pet lover to do? First of all, narrow down the choice to a species, then ask yourself why you are looking. Getting a new pet is a lifetime commitment, so it’s important to take your time and add a pet with thoughtful care, not spur of the moment impulse. If there already pets in the household, consider their emotional and physical health as you contemplate a new addition—your geriatric feline might not be so keen on a new terrier puppy joining the house. Your alpha female dog might not be interested in a young adult female joining the pack, no matter how sweet she seems to you.
When your household is already full, it’s sometimes even more difficult to pass up a needy animal. There’s no room at the inn, but you want to help homeless animals. And it’s not merely head counts that you need to consider; if your finances are stretched already, adding another mouth to feed and attendant veterinary bills, even for wellness care, can break the bank. At a time when shelters are seeing higher incidences of owner turn-ins due to financial woes, don’t add another pet just because you feel sorry for it. This is the time to volunteer. All of our area shelters are in need of foster homes and shelter volunteers for everything from kennel care to dog walking and kitty socializing. Some organizations like OldDog Haven will help with veterinary bills when you provide a final refuge home for a needy senior canine.
