Save Another Dog’s Life, by Keeping Yours

April 25, 2014

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So this weekend is the Orange County Pet Expo. Priceless Pets is loading up all their dogs and taking them there for the weekend so they can all be on display for adoption! While they have been doing this for many years, this is the first I’ve heard of it. But if you’re gonna get a dog adopted, this is THE place! I would imagine animal lovers from all over will be coming to this 3 day event! However, it saddens me a little because it brings to light just how many dogs are homeless in this world.

You see, at one point, every senior dog and “problem dog” was a dog that someone or some family just HAD to have. They were probably a newly born little puppy who was so cute, they could do no wrong. And like all new relationships, everything is sunshine and roses until reality kicks in. All of a sudden, your cute little puppy starts to get bigger and the things you thought were so cute as a puppy are no longer that cute when your puppy becomes an adult. Now your cute puppy “doesn’t listen” and what was once the sunshine of your life is now a nuisance….Or heaven forbid, your dog gets old! And now your dog has lost its new car smell. They don’t play like they used to, they develop medical problems, and they just become “boring”. Maybe their medical problems become too much of a financial burden on you or you just “don’t have time” anymore.

So whatever reason you have, you decide to do the “right thing” and take your dog to the shelter because it’s “just not fair” to keep the dog at your house because you just can’t “spend enough time” with them anymore. And you tell everyone how great your dog is but you’re so “busy” that your dog “deserves better”. When I hear people say that, all you’re telling me is that your dog is great but not that great for you. What you’re telling me is that the dog you just “HAD TO HAVE” years ago is no longer good enough. Sounds a lot like today’s relationships but as humans, we can move on. Animals have no say in this. More times than not, that animal goes from “have to own” to “have to be put to sleep” because there simply are not enough adopters or room in the shelters for these dogs.

“But what about a no-kill shelter? I can take my dog there and she will not be put down and a family will adopt her.” – Let me tell you this, for every one owner surrender a no- kill shelter takes in, a dog dies. Sure, it’s not yours, but one dies…because the dog YOU no longer have time for, the dog that already had a home, has taken that dogs place. Congrats, a dog that could have been saved that was on death row has now lost their chance.

Look, I can’t tell the future. I know life happens. You get divorced, you lose your job, times get tough but what does that have to do with your dog? Why does your dog have to suffer when your dog is probably the only being that is willing to stick with you through all the bad times? I’ve seen the look on a dog’s face when their owner drops them off at the rescue. They look terrified and confused. Yeah, I’ve seen owners crying in their car but eventually they drive home to their house, maybe post about it on Facebook so they can let everyone know just how much you “care” while “man’s best friend” gets to sleep on a concrete floor with a ton of dogs barking in their ear. If I sound a bit judgmental it’s only because there are way too many dogs dying for no other reason than the fact that they are homeless. Nobody is going to care if you don’t get a dog, but if you do, handle your responsibility.

With that being said, I hope and pray that every single dog that Priceless Pets brings to the Pet Expo today gets adopted. I hope and pray that there are no dogs to load up and bring back so that we can save more animals. When you go to the Pet Expo this weekend or your local animal shelter to find a new companion, consider that senior dog or adult dog. Before you adopt that puppy, take a look at her mom. She’s probably the sweetest thing you’ll ever meet. All they need is a chance. And the great thing about them? They’re all past that puppy stage and just want to be loved.

And if you just have to have a puppy, do me one favor. Get your dog fixed. Trust me; there is no shortage of puppies in this world, of any breed. Yes, I know YOUR puppy is the greatest dog in the world but you’re not doing anyone a favor by making more or them. I know everyone loves the puppies. I’ve seen Priceless Pets on Saturday mornings, and if you want to adopt a puppy, by all means, adopt a puppy. Just take care of that puppy, because that puppy will soon grow up. And during that time, you puppy will chew some stuff up, destroy some things and pee in the house. Like I said earlier, you may lose your job, have a bad breakup, or get divorced somewhere down the road. Life is going to knock you down. Trust me, I know. But just know that owning a dog is like having a 3 year old for the rest of your life. You will be feeding them and picking up after them for as long as they are alive. But it’s also like having a 3 year old that will never get mad at you, judge you, or care that you had a bad day.

I think every person that surrenders their dog should have to write a letter to them and read it out loud to their pet explaining all the reasons they can’t keep them anymore. I bet a lot of people change their minds…just saying.