Meet Chuck! Adopted just yesterday, this pup is adjusting well in his new loving home.
This Change Weekly has been inspired by the newest addition to my family, Chuck. This two-year-old chihuahua mix was adopted from the Upland Animal Shelter. Upon entering this new shelter, I was impressed by the size and number of volunteers working that morning. However, once I walked around in search for my new companion friend, I was overwhelmed with emotion for the number of dogs that are currently without loving homes. Domesticated dogs rely on your love and affection, and deserve freedom from these small cages! This bring us to this week's change, adopt! Don't shop!
According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) approximately 5-7 million animals enter shelters every year and 3-4 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States alone. With millions of dogs and cats entering shelters every year, there are plenty of animals that are in desperate need of loving homes. Unfortunately many of these animals do not get the home they need and are euthanized.
There are two parts to this problem. First and most importantly, we need to find a better way to control the domestic population of dogs and cats in our communities. By spaying and neutering your animals as soon as it is possible, we are eliminating the excess of stray/abandoned animals entering animal shelters. It is the responsibility of humans to care for these animals, because we have domesticated them to depend on us! By preventing the problem, we will work towards the solution much faster. However, there is a problem that we are currently facing with there already being too many animals in shelters without homes. Therefore, the second way to better this problem is by adopting animals from local shelters rather than from breeders or pet shops. If we change our demand for "designer dogs" only, and give love to those that are in shelters, we will positively impact the lives of dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, birds and other animals.
So, before you go to the pet shop, remember there are many loving animals at your local shelter waiting for you to take them home.
