![]() |
Our newest adopted family member Lela after swimming |
So why should you adopt? In a post about the Brewer's Nyjer Morgan, I previously linked to the HSUS' Top Five Reasons to Adopt. I can't do much better than their list, though I hope the paragraph above points out some other benefits. My biggest reason is number five on HSUS' list: You won't be supporting puppy mills and pet stores. I am sure some of you have gotten pets from reputable breeders whether certified or not, but the chances of finding a good one are slim and if you buy from a store - be assured there are NO reputable sources that provide stores with pets.
Another personal example can illustrate this. One of our dogs that passed away last year, a border collie named Glory, was from a supposedly highly regarded breeder with champion herding border collies. Yes, he had a record of breeding winners and great working stock, but he wasn't all on the up and up. Glory was born deaf you see. Sure it can happen, certain breeds are predisposed usually by their coat color, but in the case of border collies it is in the merle coat which is recessive. If you know how those genes work, breeding two recessives together is more likely to produce the result. In Glory's case, the breeder knowingly bred two merle coat dogs together as they both were champions despite the fact they could - and did - produce deaf dogs. He had numerous litters with a deaf dog which he passed onto a rescue while he sold the others for high profit. Glory's litter in fact had two of five deaf dogs. Do you know how hard it is to find a home for a very active, smart, deaf dog? To him they were like production waste where you expect to discard some that just don't come out right. At least he took them to a rescue, many breeders will just kill a dog born deaf. Glory came with her AKC papers, but they meant nothing as her deafness precluded her from taking part in any official activities.
Here's a final thought, adopting an animal not only supports that animal, but it also supports other animals that will need help in the future. By supporting that organization you make it possible for them to stay in existence and help more animals.
Not sure what all the organizations are in your area? One resource can help you find any dog or cat (or other small animal) regardless of breed or organization: Petfinder. There you can search by breed, gender, age, or other qualities and see any and all available in your area. You can also check out AWARE - the Alliance of Wisconsin Animal Rehoming Efforts - which has a list of vetted (pun intended) organizations in Wisconsin. If you have any general questions on caring for your adopted pet here is a great resource.
No comments:
Post a Comment