Adopt!

I think it's very important to get the message out about adopting animals. There are soooooo many animals in shelters and foster homes that really need homes and someone to love them. I have five dogs and four cats and have had many other animals in my lifetime. All of my animals are from rescues because I believe it's very important to support them. There are too many homeless animals to fit in the shelters, which is why there is a euthanasia list. If more people went to the shelters and pounds when they thought about getting an animal, it could cut back on animals needlessly dying. Here is a list of some of my favorite animal rescue organizations and also ways to find animals that need adopting.


petfinder.com is an excellent place to go to find animals all over the country. They have a lot of different shelters that list their animals on there and they have an easy search that lets you find things easily. You can look for dogs, cats, rabbits, small furry things like rats and gerbils and mice, horses, birds, reptiles and amphibians, pigs, and barnyard animals. That is quite the selection and there are a lot of options in each category. If you click on an animal and not much is listed about them, you should definitely email or call the rescue to find out more information. A lot of the time there are so many animals that the people who run the rescues don't have time to put up a detailed biography of each one. 


adoptapet.com has a lot of animals as well and allows you to search for them. They also have some really good information about adoption.


A really good idea is to just search on google for what you are looking for and where you are. For example, if  you are looking for a Pomeranian in Georgia just type in "Pomeranian rescue in Georgia" and see what comes up. If you look hard enough you will most likely find what you are looking for.


I'm not saying this is as good as going to a rescue site, but craigslist also has animals that really need homes. A lot of people post on there basically giving their pets away because they are unable to keep them anymore. It's very sad and you could definitely help save an animals life because most likely the people are going to have to take them to the pound. A lot of these animals cost very little money and desperately need homes. Also, people who find stray animals will post them on craiglist as well. 


Always look at your cities humane society and pound because these are the animals that are in the most critical need. They are in danger of being euthanized unless you or a rescue organization can save them. The one downside is that often times not much information is known about the animals, but if you are willing to be patient, I'm sure they will adjust to their new lives with you. My family has adopted many dogs and cats from the humane society and pound and they have all turned out to be wonderful.


Something that keeps people away from adopting is the age of the animals. They want a brand new puppy or kitten so they go to a breeder. One thing you may not know is that a lot of animal rescues and even pounds and humane societies have very young animals. Often times they will find a stray animal that is pregnant and when they have their babies, they will be available to adopt as well. Also, consider giving a home to an older pet. A lot of the older animals have been through a lot in their lives and would appreciate a final home where they can be loved until the end of their days. Older animals need love just as much as little ones do.


Another thing to look into is adoption fairs. I don't know if all cities do this, but some hold fairs where a bunch of rescue organizations get together and bring some of their animals and people can walk around and look. This is a good idea if you're very open to what you're looking for and want to be able to interact with the pets and talk to the rescues in person. 


If you do not need an animal right now or cannot get one, donating to rescues or sponsoring a rescue animal is also very helpful. Lots of rescues are non profits and need donations to keep themselves up and running. Even a little amount of money would help. You can also sponsor animals where you can help pay for some of the things they will need, especially if they are very ill. 


Another thing you can do to help out is volunteer. Many organizations are staffed by many volunteers who work for free. They help out with every part of the organization. You can go to organizations' websites or call them to see if they're looking for volunteers, because a lot of them are.


Lastly, I would like to talk about special needs animals. There are many animals that are adoptable that are very ill or have things that require a little extra effort on your part. Some of them are missing limbs, eyes, or have a disease where they need extra attention and care. These animals are just as special as the ones with no problems and need a home just as bad. They will still love you and be a great addition to your family. Don't let their special needs keep you from considering them.


Remember, adopting is great, but make sure you will be able to take care of your animal before you adopt it because you don't want it to have to go right back to the rescue. Consider if your other pets would want another animal around or if you have small children who might not know how to take care of it. Also, think about the cost of it. If something were to happen to it, would you have the money to pay? Or would you have to put it to sleep. Make sure you think of some bad scenarios and think of ways you would be able to take care of the animal.


Thank you very much for considering rescuing!