adoption
Our guide to animal adoption; learn why, where, and how to prepare to adopt a cat, kitten, dog or puppy from an animal shelter or rescue group.
It Was "Meant to Be!"
For months my wife and I had been eagerly waiting for a puppy that we had put a deposit on earlier that year. That January, we had found a breeder for Alaskan Malamutes near Seattle, Washington. She had told us that we would either be eighth in line for the February/March litter or we would be first for the April/May litter. She warned us that she cannot predict how many puppies her female would have so we may or may not get a puppy with the first litter. March comes around and there were seven puppies. Disappointed of course, we were hopeful and excited to get a puppy in the next few months.
By Emily Elliott7 years ago in Petlife
Adopting a Cat
When I adopted my cat Nellie, she was the first cat I had ever owned. I grew up with dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, goldfish, hamsters, and whatever else we rescued from the wild. As a child, I considered myself a lover of animals, certainly, but very much in the camp of ‘dog lover.’
By Alicia Brunskill7 years ago in Petlife
The Truth About Working at a Shelter
When most people think about a shelter they think of the smell of dogs. The smell of feces and urine, loud barking, whining, and bowls clanking. Not my shelter. My shelter is good, clean, still loud at times but we take care of our own. I work at a no kill shelter in St. Charles, MO. When I go and get dogs from other animal control facilities the description I gave above is all I see. I hear good things and bad things about these other shelters, but regardless I go and get those dogs for our shelter. Working at a no kill shelter, like mine, doesn’t make my job any less hard than those other shelters that do kill and are government funded. I still get people that come in and cry to me about how they can’t handle their dogs anymore, how they are moving, how they are having a baby, or just that they don’t want to have a dog anymore. I see it all, every day. All of these dogs eventually find good, loving, stable homes but when they come in they don’t know why they are here. They are scared, and alone abandoned by their families. We try to make them feel safe, giving them a nice bed to lay on, toys, food, and fresh water. We give them a bath, trim their nails, and clean their ears to make them feel better. You see, most of our dogs come from homes but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dirty, ears infected, teeth never been brushed, never been given a bath. So we make them feel clean and warm, like they may have never felt before. We try to give them all the comforts of a real home, without the family part. Until one day that family comes, and they finally feel safe.
By Brianna Summers7 years ago in Petlife
My New Best Friend
MY NEW BEST FRIEND Sometimes in life, we come across that one special being, that one amazing soul that loves us so deeply, so unconditionally, that we call them our “best friend.” Sometimes, that best friend comes in the form of a sweet four-legged dog, cat, rabbit or other “fur baby.”
By Lori Brizius7 years ago in Petlife
A Dream Come True
We all love a heart-warming, animal rescue story. Giving an animal another chance at life or a better home is inspiring. All animals deserve to be loved and cared for. I like to think all pet owners strive to provide the best environment for them. Whether it’s intentional or not, sometimes an animal’s situation has to change. Not every home is the best for them.
By Kylie Jane7 years ago in Petlife
Don't Buy a Dog on Craigslist
This is a PSA within a story. My therapist was suggesting I get a dog to help with my anxiety of being alone. I brought this up to my mother and she agreed with the condition that the dog would have to be reasonable price and she would have the final say. My mom wanted a girl puppy; since we already had a boy puppy. I agreed and then quickly began the search to find the perfect pup.
By Nick Jimenez7 years ago in Petlife
Best Pet Adoption Websites
When it comes to getting a pet, adoption should always be an option—it's just the right thing to do. By adopting a pet, you are saving a life of an animal that will become a loyal friend and a part of your family. Adoption also helps reduce the amount of unethical puppy mills and pet breeders that exist, which in turn, helps animal welfare tremendously.
By Iggy Paulsen7 years ago in Petlife
A Dog's Dog
Baby May came into my life as Blueberry, a long haired Chihuahua that had been taken from an abusive home. Every noise scared her, the tiny little ball of black fur hiding in the back of her cage at the adoption fair, cowering if anyone dared to come near her cage, but that didn't stop me. No one else was interested in her, everyone wanted the puppies and the dogs that wagged their tails at everyone, but I wanted her, I wanted to help her. I sat down outside her cage, offering her treats and love, slowly coaxing her out. It was official, I was in love. I called my mom to come see her, as I needed her approval since I lived with her, begging for her to come see this timid little dog. When my mom arrived, the look on my face told her everything that she needed to know; this dog was coming home with us. Papers were signed, visits were arranged, and she came home with us. As soon as we got home, she walked the perimeter of our backyard, unsure of the new space, looking like a fox stalking prey.
By Janelle Hammonds7 years ago in Petlife
An Adoption Journey
When my husband and I got married, we had talked about getting a kitten, but hadn't really given much thought to actually adopting a cat. We had visited a humane society many times, seen cats and kittens of various ages, but none of them ever felt like the kitty for us. And then I was scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook one afternoon, and I scrolled past this picture too quickly, almost missing it. When I scrolled back up, I knew that I was in love. His little face was just the saddest thing I had ever seen, so I reached out to the person who had taken him in to foster. It just so happened to be a family member of mine, so I called her and asked all of the usual questions. Male or female? How old? Vet checked? Shots? All the good stuff. Unfortunately, she didn't know much about him, because her husband had found him and one sibling (who unfortunately had to be put down because they were suffering, or we might have had two kitties) and they had only taken them to the vet to make sure they were healthy. After getting off the phone with her, we messaged back and forth on Facebook some more about logistics, as my husband was still at work at that point. I texted my husband and told him that there was something we needed to talk about when he got home (brutal, I know) and waited not so patiently.
By Jessye Gould8 years ago in Petlife
