Meet my dogs, Hobo (left) and Alice (right).
First of all, aren't they cute? OK, this isn't what it looks like -- an article about how much I love my dogs, but in case you were wondering, they are my babies and I'm a little obsessed with them. Actually, this is the story of how I got my dogs.
Hobo and Alice are rescue dogs, meaning my family didn't purchase them from a pet store or breeder. Instead, my dogs have unique backgrounds that led to them being placed in foster homes and put up for adoption through canine rescue organizations.
When Hobo (or Bobi, as we like to call him) was a puppy, his owner stopped on the side of a rural road in Tennessee and threw him out of his truck, leaving him alone and scared. Luckily, the daughter of a veterinarian was behind the truck and stopped to rescue him. Unfortunately, because of the overpopulation of canines in the south, many shelters are high kill shelters, meaning they euthanize dogs when they don't have room for them. The woman knew she couldn't take this puppy to a shelter, so she brought him to Circle of Hope K9 Rescue, who her veterinarian mother worked with. Circle of Hope is a rescue organization that works to pull dogs out of high kill shelters and place them with foster families here in New England, where they will live until they are adopted. Circle of Hope pulled Hobo and brought him to Connecticut, where my family eventually met and fell in love with him at a local adoption event.
Alice's story is a little different. We're not exactly sure how, but she ended up at a canine rescue in Pennsylvania. She was then adopted by a family who would soon after return her because she growled at their toddler (side note: Alice barks fewer than 10 times a day, loves to snuggle, and is the definition of an angel). She was supposed to be sent to a shelter, but Greg Mahle, founder of Rescue Road Trips, an organization that pulls dogs from high kill shelters and drives them to rescue organizations so they may be placed in foster homes, met Alice and knew he couldn't let her go into a shelter. So, he took her home with him to Ohio, where he fostered her until my mom came across her listing on Pet Finder and made the impulsive decision to adopt her through the rescue organization Labs 4 Rescue.
Today, my dogs are spoiled with toys and treats, love to run around our backyard, and snuggle up on the couch with us at night. So, why am I telling you all of this? Because I want to preach how important adopting rescue animals is. My dogs may have had tough starts to their lives, but thanks to rescue organizations and people like Greg, they ended up with us, stealing my hats and taking up too much room on the couch. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're thinking about getting a pet, consider adoption for the following reasons:
1. You're helping an animal in need.
Every year in the United States, about 7.6 million companion animals are put into shelters. While I don't think there's anything wrong with getting a cat or dog from a breeder, there are so many great animals sitting in shelters right now, looking for someone to call their family. Rescue animals deserve a second chance at having a good life!
2. You're helping to put an end to animal euthanasia.
Of the 7.6 million animals entering shelters yearly, 2.7 million are euthanized due to lack of space. One less animal in a shelter is one less animal being killed for no reason.
3. You're supporting rescue organizations.
Rescue organizations like Circle of Hope K9 Rescue, Labs 4 Rescue, and Rescue Road Trips work hard to make sure dogs are being kept out of high kill shelters and are placed in safe, loving homes. Many of the people who make this happen are volunteers and do not receive any form of an incentive. They simply help out of the goodness of their hearts.
4. You're taking business away from puppy mills.
Puppy mills are large-scale commercial breeding establishments. These mills often operate on an intensive basis and have horribly inhumane conditions. Profit is given priority over the safety and well-being of the dogs. Many organizations are pushing towards putting a ban on puppy mills, but unfortunately, some pet stores still use them to buy their puppies. By adopting, you're taking away business from these horrible establishments and helping in the effort to get them shut down.
5. You might just find your new best friend.
Like I said before, I'm a little obsessed with Hobo and Alice. If my family had never looked into adopting a dog, I never would have met my furry best friends!
If you're interested in adopting a companion animal, check out petfinder.com!
