Second Chance Pet Adoption - Filling In The Gaps

I've only met a few people in my life who really didn't like animals. They don't care about animal issues. They've never had a pet and would be happier if they never had to deal with another barking dog or scratching cat. I don't understand them but then there is the opposite extreme, the people who treat their pets better than their children or elderly family members. Neither fringe is understandable, at least to me. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle of this equation.

If you are like me, then you ache when you see a homeless animal wandering the city. You put out bowls of food for the strays in your neighborhood. You take care of the helpless ones until a permanent home can be found. You care as much as you can without totally disrupting the lives of the other people who live in your house. That's me..do you recognize a little of yourself?

If you'd like to participate in organized efforts to help stray and homeless pets and network with others who feel this calling, just type "second chance pets" into your search engine. You'll find several results for a Second Chance pet-rescue group near you. Here are just a few I found - Second Chance Pet Adoptions, Second Chance Elk Grove, IL, Second Chance California, and 2nd Chance 4 Pets.

These organizations, with the help of volunteers, work with abandoned dogs and cats, providing foster homes for them, lobbying vets to give reduced rates on care and medications, and ultimately trying to find permanent homes.

Anything you can do to help this cause is appreciated. Even if you can't be a foster family for an animal you can donate money to a Second Chance organization or no-kill pet shelter in your area. You can offer your skills in possibly web design, advertising, or public relations. Whatever your special skill, there is usually a way to adapt it to help a worthy cause. You can volunteer to drive rescued animals to veterinary appointments or to meetings with prospective owners.

I think I'd like to volunteer at a shelter to take the little guys for walks or to sit and pet them for a while, just to reintroduce them to a loving hand before they move into a stable home.

Here are some statistics from Animal Network World about the plight of abandoned pets in the United States:

-More than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year.

- Millions more are abandoned in rural and urban areas.

- As many as 25% of dogs entering shelters each year are purebreds.

- Approximately 61% of all dogs entering shelters are killed.

- Approximately 75% of all cats entering shelters are killed.

- It costs approximately $100 to capture, house, feed, and eventually kill each stray animal -- a cost which you, the taxpayer, eventually pay.

In addition to volunteering your time to rescue organization, please have your pets spayed and neutered, encourage your friends who own pets to do the same. That one action, along with your compassion and empathy, will help to solve this crisis.

Help for Stray Animals in the US

Every day in the United States 70,000 stray and unwanted dogs and cats are born. This alarming number comes straight from the Human Society. In Detroit, Michigan the problem is so bad that packs of wild dogs run unchecked among abandoned buildings. This is true in most large cities and despite the shocking numbers, only 20 states have laws requiring sterilization of such animals.

Shelters all across the country are overwhelmed, even though they euthanize regularly. Euthanization is considered cruel by many private citizens and they have banned together to form no kill shelters. Even that is not enough. They are also overwhelmed and have trouble finding homes for the animals. It takes manpower, money, and proper facilities to successfully run a shelter. Even the most kind hearted of rescuers eventually run face first into these obstacles.

One such group is FLOCK (for the love of cats and kittens). They operate a cat and kitten sanctuary in Pahrump, NV. Their president recently resigned, she says, leaving the 400 animals in good condition. Six weeks later, Nye county called in the help of an animal rights group to investigate charges of neglect.

The answer to animal overpopulation is difficult to implement but relatively simple in concept. Pets must be spayed and neutered. Strays must be spayed when taken in by shelters and adopted out. Pet owners must be responsible when making reproductive decisions for their animals. If you are not a licenced breeder then you animal does not need to reproduce. Kittens and puppies are no doubt some of the cutest animals on the planet but that alone is no reason to let you cat give birth. There are so many animal waiting for homes, wandering our streets, starving and needing care. If you want a pet, please go to a shelter and adopt or rescue a stray that comes across your path.

The efforts of tireless shelter and rescue organizations should be commended. The Internet has made it even easier to adopt with some private no-kill shelters advertising for long distance adoptions.

One such organization is Hearts United For Animals, http://www.hua.org/Tias-Place.html. They encourage long distance adoption if safe flights are scheduled and there is a volunteer in your area to do a home inspection. Many of their dogs have been rescued from abusive situations and HUA takes extra measures to insure they will not suffer in their new homes. You can also become an animal buddy by giving a donation to a specific resident of HUA. Buddies help to defray the cost of care until a permanent home can be found.

FurKids, http://www.furkids.org/, is an organization for cats based in Atlanta, GA. There are many like them all over the country. They foster cats and kittens until homes can be found. Their animals are shown for adoption at the local PetSmart stores. They accept donations and fund programs for public awareness about solutions to animal overpopulation.

We can each do our part by being compassionate to animals and open to solutions on their behalf. Take in a stray or deliver it to a reputable shelter or veterinarian's office. Report animal abuse and neglect. Care responsibly for the pets you own. Above all give them lots of love. I think most spiritual leaders would agree that the golden rule applies to ALL the creatures of the planet.