Every three months, the 15th day is designated  Blog the change 4 animals.  A day when bloggers united by their love and passion for animals use their voices to try to make a change.

For me what is near and dear to my heart is the six to eight million dogs and cats that get dumped into shelters every year.  More importantly I ask myself why?  Why does someone adopt a pet, then unceremoniously dump them; a week, a month or a year later?

Those sweet little bundles of fur grow up, kittens become cats and puppies become dogs and raising an animal takes time and money.  All of a sudden a couple months later, what was once a sweet, cuddly bundle of fur is making demands on you.

I don’t have all the answers, but here are a few reasons I can think of.

CATS:

Cats smell. One of the main reasons I didn’t want another cat after I lost my Smokey was the litter box. I hate cleaning the litter box.  I forget there’s a litter box until I smell it.  GROSS.   Sometimes cats don’t use the litter box.  Un-neutered males will sometimes spray.  If the litter box is full sometimes cats will void somewhere else.  In my mind there is nothing stronger than the smell of cat urine.  I can smell it as so on as I walk into a house.

Cats scratch.  Kittens have claws for defense; that is how they protect themselves.  In order to keep their only form of defense in tip top shape, they scratch.  Furniture, wood, rugs.  My current cat is tearing up my rugs.

Cats climb on things.  Yes, the current cat loves to jump on the counters as well as the dining room table.  I don’t want a cat on either one of them.  

DOGS:

Time.  Dogs require training and training takes time!  When you meet someone with a beautiful dog that sits and waits for petting you are looking at a dog that has a LOT of time invested.  Well trained dogs do not come that way!  They must be trained.  Just like you ‘train’ your child. 

Exercise.  I don’t care what anyone tells you; dogs require exercise.  Depending on the dog it may be minimal exercise but you still need to exercise the dog.  You have a job, a family and friends; your new dog has YOU.

Expense.  Dogs are expensive.  The cost of food, vet bills, training classes; they all add up to a tidy amount each year.  We spend about $2,500 per year on our dogs including food, medications and vet bills; and that is not including training or doggie daycare.

Having just written and re-read this it would seem like I am trying to discourage people from having animals and that is NOT the case at all.  What I’m advocating for is for people to educate themselves BEFORE they make a committment to bring a furry bundle of love into their home.  

BREEDERS:

A responsible breeder should make sure people are aware of the costs and time associated with a new dog/cat. 

A responsible breeder should do a home check or at the very least should check in with you every couple of months to ensure all is well.

A responsible breeder WILL take your pet back for any reason at any time.  You may not get your money back, but the goal is to make sure that pet is well taken care of.

Shelters/Rescues/Pounds:

Should educate potential adopters of the time and expense that goes into raising an animal.

Should partner with a local training center/trainer and negotiate a discounted training rate for adopted dogs.

WILL make it right.  When we adopted Delilah we were told she was spayed; no-one was more surprised than us when she went into heat.  I contacted the rescue and they paid for all the fees associated with her spaying.

WILL  take the animal back if for any reason you cannot keep him/her.  The American Lab Rescue where we adopted Delilah from REQUIRES we return her to them if for any reason we can no longer keep her; it is written in our signed contract.

For me the goal will be to educated ourselves and others who may be interested in adopting/owning a pet to know the investment required to have that dog sitting nicely; waiting for petting.

Blog the Change. Be the Change!

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