What to write about this month? Cute costumes for your best buddy on Halloween? Nope, my buddies would be insulted if I threated them as anything but four footed humans. Dogs and falling leaves and fall stories? Each time I sat and tried to decide what to discuss or share I would read something else about our shelters being full. Foster families for both children and pets needed or see a Facebook post about an animal that had obviously been “dumped”. I even saw an ad that showed an adorable puppy with a picture of the same breed adult dog beside it which read something like… “For those of you considering giving a puppy as a gift this Christmas, remember they don’t stay a puppy. Be prepared for all stages of your ‘present’s’ life. If you’re not prepared for all stages, then don’t give a puppy as a present. Give something that’s not alive and won’t be hurt when you ‘give him away’ from the only family he’s known.”
That being said, I also kept getting figures like these…
-It is estimated that 52 million dogs and 57 million cats live with U.S. families.
-For every human born, 7 puppies and 24 kittens are born.
-Homeless animals outnumber humans 5 to 1.
-More than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are abandoned in rural and urban areas
-As many as 25% of dogs entering shelters each year are purebred.
-Approximately 61% of all dogs entering shelters are killed.
-Approximately 75% of all cats entering shelters are killed.
-90% of pets coming into a shelter are not neutered or spayed.
-Only 1 out of 10 dogs born will ever find a forever home.
-Only 1 out of 12 cats born will ever find a forever home.
With all these facts swimming around in my brain, eight beautiful dogs were dumped in Fulks Run, and the SPCA was called to come and capture them. They are currently at the Rockingham/Harrisonburg SPCA along with many other friends waiting for someone to love them.
I look at my best buddies, and they don’t have a clue how lucky they are. I hope it will always be that way for them and that other four-footed babies will know the love of a human family.
Until Next Time…
Stay Paws-ative and enjoy your best friend!
Happy Tails to You!
Cammie
