Pet adoption services from the Humane Society. A brief history of the Society, costs involved, and other ways to help the Society such as making donations.
While the Humane Society is actually an International Organization, I am dealing with local Humane Societies and Pet Shelters in this article. There are an estimated 4 to 6 million dogs and cats euthanized in America each year because they are unwanted. In my experience, this is a terrible waste.
There are so many unwanted pets in this country, if you are in the market for a new pet, why not check with your local Humane Society or Pet Shelter? Even if you are not in the market for a pet, your local animal shelters can always use your help and donations.
The first week in November is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, and these shelters do so much more than finding unwanted animals new homes. They also check out cases of abuse, rescue animals during disasters (not only house pets, but wild animals also), protect endangered animals, make sure that animals used in research are well cared for, and so many other things.
There are several things that you can do to support the Humane Society or your local animal shelter. While monetary gifts, no matter how large or small are always appreciated, they can always use food, old blankets and towels, and volunteers. Volunteers can not only spend some time with the animals, bathing, walking and playing, but can also help in cleaning the kennels and feeding.
The best place to find your local Humane Society or Pet Shelters is to look in the phone book under animal control, animal shelters, or humane society. It is also possible that a local veterinarian or police may be able to point you in the right direction. If you have tried these other resources to no avail, you can contact them by writing or searching online for their site;
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Many shelters also have web sites that actually will show pictures of the pets that they have up for adoption. You can e-mail them for more specific information about a pet in question, before actually visiting the shelter. Also, if you happen to be missing a pet, this is the best place to start looking. Most web sites also have a list of stray animals that have been picked up and where, you can check here to see if your missing pet may be on their list. A shelter will generally hold a stray animal for a certain period of time, before placing that pet up for adoption. At my local shelter it is 48 hours, also an animal must be at least 7 weeks old before being adopted. My local shelter also has a place on their web site, for owners that have lost their animals to post a picture of their missing pets, in hope that someone will find them, and they can be reunited.
While finding unwanted pets new homes is very important to these groups, they do have requirements for adoptive families. The pet will usually be spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter. Although if you adopt a pet that is not old enough for this procedure, they will give you a coupon that can be taken to a local vet. This coupon will generally be for a great reduction in the cost of the spaying or neutering, they will give you a time limit, in which this may be taken care of.
Some adoptive families are even run through a checking process, each time that I have adopted a pet, I fill out paperwork one day, then have to return a day or so later to pick up my new addition. This may seem strict, but the shelter wants to ensure that these animals are going to a good home. Remember too, that these pets have been unwanted once, this should never happen to them again!
All shelters will also issue you a license and any other tags your pet will need. Such as rabies, all pets are given all of their shots and have been wormed before being adopted.
While all shelters will screen any animals for health and behavior problems, unfortunately these pets will never be adopted, all the pets put up for adoption will go through a adjustment process at your home. Be patient and loving, while I have never had a problem with any of my pets, it may take a little time for them to get used to you and their new surroundings.
It does cost to adopt a pet, these are the costs at my local shelter, you will have to check with your local shelter for their specific costs. To adopt a dog or puppy the cost is $30.00 if they have not been spayed or neutered, $60.00 if they have. To adopt a cat or kitten the un-spayed or neutered cost is $25.00, and $50.00 if the procedures have been done. They also charge an additional $5.00 for rabies shots.
At the present time, I only have one dog (my daughter's) that is not an unwanted animal. I have a very soft spot in my heart for any pet that is unwanted. We are fortunate enough to live out in the country, where we can let our pets roam in the yard, when we are out with them. My pets are extremely protective and loving to me and my family. I think since they were unwanted, they are so grateful to have a home that they will do anything for us. The next time you are looking for a pet or have a few extra dollars, go visit your local pet shelter or Humane Society, you will be very glad you did.
