PSA: Pet adoption is a commitment

amother

Fri, Jul 21 2023, 4:48 pm

As an animal rescue volunteer, I want to remind everyone that pet adoption is a commitment for the lifetime of the pet. Please do not impulsively adopt an animal—they are living beings, not objects, and can develop behavioral issues by being shifted around between different homes and families (like people, they get attached, and being abruptly sent somewhere else can create a rupture in their ability to trust and feel secure, possibly causing aggressive, avoidant, territorial and other problematic behaviors).

In particular, I see many people trying to rehome pets shortly after adopting them. Pets are wonderful and add so much love to our lives. They are also a commitment and a significant responsibility:

emotional: animals bond with their owners, and cannot be ignored, or left alone (like if uou travel) without someone coming to check on them every day, interact with them, feed them, take care of their bathroom needs, etc.

physical: think twice-daily walks for dogs, even if you’re tired or the weather is bad or your MIL is visiting, and picking up their excrement every single time, even if you’re not in the mood; and for cats, scooping the litterbox daily, or having another family member or outside person, who will reliably do it if you are expecting (pregnant women should not touch used kitty litter or cat feces)

financial: vet bills, including yearly vaccinations, checkups and dental cleanings, plus potential unexpected large bills if c”v a pet needs surgery, for example; food costs; grooming (depending on the pet’s self-grooming abilities and fur length); litter (for cats); training for dogs.

If you are considering adopting a pet, but are unable or unwilling to commit to caring for the pet for its entire lifetime, please consider fostering rather than adopting. Fostering allows people the opportunity to “have” a pet temporarily, without the obligation to care for it for its entire life. Rescues will work with fostering “pet parent” and will cover most or all of the related expenses, such as food and vet visits.

On a related note: sometimes people give or receive pets as gifts. Sometimes the new owners are unable to care for the pet, and offer the pet for rehoming/adoption “for free.”

This presents a huge potential risk to the animals’ safety. Animal rescue organizations strongly urge pet owners that adoptable animals NEVER be advertised as "free," since this risks inviting applicants who may not value the animal and/or may mistreat it. Pet owners seeking to re-home a pet are strongly encouraged to require a fee of at least $40-50 - because people tend to appreciate and value what they pay for.

Dogfighting groups are often on the lookout for free pets - small dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens (and possibly bunnies, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) - for use as bait in dogfights. The animals used as bait are often killed or seriously injured.

See the following links for more information:

https://almosthomeadoptions.co.....home/

http://www.carolsferals.org/no.....tens/

https://www.iizcat.com/post/30.....hters

PLEASE use caution when attempting to rehome an animal. Pets are relying on us to make sure that whoever adopts them can and will treat them right. PLEASE require a background check and have the adoption applicant provide references (including a reputable veterinarian) who can verify whether they are qualified to care for a pet. You should definitely also require a signed adoption agreement - local rescues such as the ASPCA, APL, and Humane Society can provide guidance and may be able to offer sample adoption contracts, or have the option to surrender a pet to them and they will then take over finding the pet a new home.

Lastly, for anyone thinking of buying a pet for someone as a gift: PLEASE consider whether your intended recipient is prepared - emotionally, physically and financially (think vet checkups, vaccinations, food, etc) - to assume responsibility for an animal’s care. If they are not equipped to care for a pet but love animals (and you want to recognize that for their birthday, a gift, etc), perhaps make a donation to an animal rescue in their honor (or a similar gift option).

If adopting a pet, please make sure that the owner of the property that you/the potential new pet owner lives in is on board with having a pet on the premises. This goes for adopting a pet out to a teen or child (you must have their parent’s knowledge AND consent), adopting a pet when living in a rental (you must get the landlords consent, preferably in writing) and so forth. There can be legal repercussions for not verifying this in advance.

Lastly, it’s crucial not to support puppy mills or other unethical breeding practices. There are hundreds of thousands of pets that are in shelters or rescues waiting for their forever homes. Please carefully consider whether you can commit to the full responsibility of adoption. And please adopt, don’t shop. Thank you! 😻🐶🐾