Salvation for Man’s Best Friend
What happens to abandoned dogs, or those who run away, or get lost? Many end up in pounds where it is only a matter of time before they are put down.
Animal shelters, which take in unwanted dogs and try to rehome them, have been driving home the message over the last five to ten years the importance of spaying and neutering dogs. This has helped reduce the numbers of stray dogs in many parts of the USA.
Still, some animals will end up in shelters, often through no fault of their own. Their owner may have died, or become unable to look after them, or worse, been unwilling to look after them.
On the flip side, some might end up in shelters because they were too much to handle for their owner, they may have become too boisterous around the children or had some behavioral issue.
If you want a new dog, look first at a shelter. They have mixed and pure breeds desperately waiting for a new owner.
There are some aspects to remember when you adopt from an animal shelter. The dogs rarely come with any medical history, so any future illnesses or conditions cannot be predicted.
The character of the dog will also be somewhat a mystery, so if you are choosing a dog for a vulnerable household (ie one with children or old people) choose carefully and try to spend time with the dog first.
In addition, be prepared to have to do a little dog obedience with your new pet, to iron out any bad habits his former owner allowed him to have. Your new pet might be anxious or hyperactive in the first days and weeks as he gets used to his new circumstances.
The Humane Society is the largest organization for animal protection in the USA. Its central offices are based in Washington DC. It works on a local level with many regional branches across the USA. It is funded by donation.
The work of the Humane society includes looking after the rights of both wildlife and domestic animals. It carries out its wok through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work.
The branches provide sanctuary for unwanted animals, which are available for adoption for suitably vetted candidates.
You might feel you want to support the Humane Society; if so there are three ways you can do it. Offering a home to an abandoned pet is an enormous help. You can support the Society by giving a regular amount of money to their fund raising efforts. You might also consider lending a hand in a shelter.
All of these will help the Humane Society in their work. Animal shelters are the last resort for sick, injured and homeless animals. Make sure you don’t forget about the animals no-one remembered.
