A Better Chance
Of 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters every year, 80% of them were either healthy or at least treatable and could have been adopted into new homes. There are so many potential pets that don’t have a home. Underdog Pet Rescue is one group that is trying to prevent adoptable animals from being euthanized. The difference animals have made throughout history and still make today is surprising, and without them the world would be different. People should make sure to take care of them even if they don’t have a home yet.
“Trying to Save Buddy, a Dog From a SPCA High-Kill Shelter: A True Story” is an article written by Sharon Maguire, published to the website Dog Breed Info Center. A family’s friend was trying to assist the family with finding the right dog for them . They went to their nearby Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to look for a dog that matched their family. Because animals brought to the SPCA could have health or behavior issues, many are euthanized before getting a chance at adoption. Although, in the case of Buddy, some SPCAs don’t make adoption itself very easy. The family found Buddy and decided to fill out an application. They were accepted, but an SPCA worker came and said that after doing a background check, they discovered that the family cat was overdue for a rabies shot. Buddy’s new owner asked if she could adopt him, then take the cat to the vet the next day to update the cats vaccine but they were denied his adoption. Buddy was taken back to the shelter. The next day the family went back to the SPCA and gave them the paperwork showing their cat had been vaccinated. After having their application looked over again, the SPCA worker stated that they couldn’t adopt an animal for several years after being denied prior, which seemed strange. The familys’ friend commented, “I knew this was the perfect match for Buddy, the perfect match for this family. Did the SPCA workers really have Buddy's best interest in mind?” The family tried to get Buddy back, but to no avail. They are not sure what happened to Buddy after that.
An example of a group that helps animals become adopted is Underdog Pet Rescue, right in Madison. They are not a huge organization, but they help to transport dogs and cats away from high-kill shelters to foster homes in the Madison area so they have a better chance of being adopted. One can help out by donating, volunteering, or becoming a foster for the organization. Underdog is very helpful in the adoption process, and making sure adopters and their pets are doing well later on. If there is a problem, they lead adopters to a trainer or behaviorist to ensure that both the adopter and the adoptee are happy. There is no rush, and they have each pet’s best interest in mind. Underdog Pet Rescue is run by volunteers and foster parents who give their time to taking in and adopting out pets to good homes.
Giving animals a better chance at being adopted is important, they aid people with search and rescue, guiding the deaf or blind, military, as companions or guardians, and they assist people with many other tasks. In the case of about 2,400,00 dogs and cats euthanized every year, they could have assisted. Seeing how animals help us with so many tasks, people in turn should help them by giving them a good chance at finding a new home.
Works Cited
"The Humane Society of the United States." The Humane Society of the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar.
2016. <http://www.humanesociety.org/>.
Maguire, Sharon. "Trying to save Buddy, a Dog from a SPCA High-Kill Shelter: A True Story." Dog Breed Info
Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. <http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/savingbuddyspcadog.htm>.
"Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin." Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.underdogpetrescue.org/>.