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| Oscar, Dexter, and Juno |
Faces of hopeless shelter dogs were shown in a slide show presentation, and my heart broke (again) when I was reminded how utterly doomed they are, and how many we kill every year in this country. I went immediately online to find the least likely to be adopted from a shelter near me, and found Oscar. With the intent of fostering him until a suitable home could be found, I drove off the next day to retrieve him.
Jeffrey has had Oscar for years now, and they are inseparable. Have you seen the paw-shaped car magnets that say "Who rescued who?" That's the story of Jeff and Oscar. And then along came Juno. She was the last puppy from a "designer-dog" litter produced by a misguided backyard breeder who thought she could make a buck, and Jeff caved in the moment he saw her.
It was almost 80 degress here in sunny, Southern California today, and the little dogs were in rare form. Maybe it's because their size makes it hard to retain body heat, but small dogs revel in the sunshine. All 3 stayed busy hunting lizards, digging up gopher holes, and lounging in the sun while Jeff and I fixed things that needed it.
All day long we called each other's attention to the antics of one small dog, then the other. We're so blessed to have 'em. You can be too. With the holidays approaching, folks might be tempted to buy a puppy. The ads say this season is a bad time to add a dog, or puppy to your life, and I agree. But, if you have to do it, please consider adoption first. Then go take some adorable pictures of your own.
I know, my lil pup can't get enough of the sunshine...great pics !
ReplyDeleteI have a neighbor that is a "backyard breeder" of several kinds of dogs. I have, over the years tried to reason with her, but my words fall on deaf ears. she does the same with horses. It's all I can do to keep my composure around her. What is one to do? Really? Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteTry hitting her with the facts. Print it out and put it in her mailbox. This info was copied from the ASPCA website:
ReplyDeleteFacts about U.S. Animal Shelters:
There are about 5,000 community animal shelters nationwide that are independent; there is no national organization monitoring these shelters. The terms “humane society” and “SPCA” are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement.
•Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
•According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.
•Twenty-five percent of dogs who enter local shelters are purebred. (Source: NCPPSP)
•Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent of owned pets are neutered.
•The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, and 10 to 20 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. (Source: Ralston Purina and NCPPSP)
•More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)
•Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.