Pet 'Net Adoption Event
Photo Credit: © Petside.com
I am pleased to have a part in this event, which corresponds to Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. The Pet 'Net Adoption Event theme was designed for the purpose of promoting the adoption of all shelter pets: cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals which have ended up in cages through no fault of their own.
Why Adopt From a Shelter?
Shelter overflow is a serious problem, which results primarily from irresponsible pet ownership.This includes failure to spay & neuter, and abandoning pets when they "misbehave" or their medical problems become too expensive to control, in their owners' viewpoint.
Nonadoptable Pets Go First
The brunt of responsibility is then shunted over to these animal shelters. "Kill" shelters euthanize 9.6 million pets annually (1996 figures), while "no-kill" shelters tighten up their requirements when they reach their limits. In the first case, the so-called "unadoptable" pets are euthanized first, whether they were relinquished for that purpose, or deemed too old, too sick, or with "uncontrollable behavior problems" by shelter personnel. In the case of "no-kill" shelters, they are simply turned away. You see, both groups need space to handle the influx of kittens, which are exceedingly adoptable.
Special Needs Shelters Are an Exception
There are a number of very special shelters in the U.S. which accept special needs cats and dogs - animals with disabilities or several medical problems. I have profiled two of my favorites:
Tabby's Place
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Other Related Reading on About.com Cats
Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Cat by a Cat Named Wellington
Adopt a Shelter Cat - Kill or No?
More Pet 'Net Adoption Event
On About.com:
About.com Veterinary Medicine
About.com Exotic Pets
On the 'Net
Pet 'Net Event Hub
Rescue Me
The Pet Haven
Petopia
PetSitUSA
Thoughts FurPaws
Comments
I’m so glad the fostering agency that rescued my kitties did not think of them as “unadoptable”, even though they were feral, and more than 3 months old. I don’t know what I would do without my beloved vowels.
I had no idea that kill shelters kill SO many animals each year. That is an awfully heartbreaking statistic.
Nice post!
Franny, that statistic about kill shelters really puts this whole issue in perspective. So sad.
It was inspiring to read about the special needs shelters, though - thanks.
Lianne