Pet Adoption

Millions of dogs are euthanized every year in pounds, while they desperately wait for a new home that will never come. It's a serious problem, one that has caused a lot of debate, anger, and a feeling of helplessness. Out of my own six dogs, four were adopted. One as a stray, two from people who just couldn't take care of the dog any more, and one directly from Capital Area Humane Society.

The most common reasons for surrendering a pet include:

• Moving
• Not enough time
• Allergies

Now, honestly, every single one of these can be prepared for, with a little foresight on the part of the pet owner or potential pet owner.

Moving. While there's not much you can do if you're moving out of the country (although, serious dog lovers CAN take their dog with them - the dog just has to be quarantined for a period of time usually), moving out of state is a flimsy excuse at best. You wouldn't leave your children behind, would you? There are also plenty of apartments, condos, houses, etc that allow pets, and many rescue groups can provide you with information on housing that accepts animals. Again, you wouldn't give up your children to move into an adults-only complex would you?

Not enough time. Okay, life happens sometimes. The unexpected can occur. That's why it's important to make sure you have as stable a life as possible before committing to pet ownership. Make sure your job hours are steady, that your position is relatively secure (as secure as one could hope in this economy, anyway), and you aren't expecting any children, heavy traveling, etc. A dog requires a certain amount of time, one on one, with a person every day to stay happy and not destroy your home to splinters. Make sure you have plenty of time for fetch, dog walks, and other fun activities for your dog every day for the foreseeable future. And most importantly, pick a breed or mix that fits into your lifestyle! Clearly, a dog such as a Border Collie is going to require a lot more exercise than a Shih Tzu.

Allergies. I think this one is just lame. If you're really interested in getting a dog, have your entire family meet the pooch before bringing it home. Many rescues and pounds will place holds on animals, so you can each snuggle the animal relentlessly and see if anybody has a reaction by the next day. Sometimes, however, allergies develop, in which case, see your doctor about prescription allergy relief like Allegra. I've found that bathing my dogs once a week (or every two weeks even) really cuts down on the dander and allergens. They also sell "dog allergy relief wipes" you can wipe on your dog before you begin hugging and petting. There are many commercial remedies to this particular issue, and you should try them all before surrendering your faithful canine.

Many people say that pound dogs are the best dogs, that they realize someone saved them, and will repay that person a hundredfold for the rest of their lives.

The issue of pet overpopulation and dog pound overcrowding is a huge one. Help raise awareness with these pet rescue t-shirts and gifts!

Adopt a Dog, Save a life!

Doggie Jail TShirt by MenagerieMayhem
Cute cartoon dog rescue t-shirt shows a poor pooch behind bars, looking quite miserable. A hard-cutting, to-the-point message about pet adoption. In shades of gray.

Pets are Not Disposable Hoodie by MenagerieMayhem
Recycle your garbage - not your furry friends! Pets are not disposable! So many animals wind up in shelters and are destroyed every year because they are treated like property instead of living beings. Think before you buy or adopt - you're committing to the life of that pet!