Thinking of Adding to your Family?

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Patricia Smillie-Scavelli
Administrator
Garden State Veterinary Specialists

This season when the Trenton Thunder minor league baseball team takes the field, a very special dog will be there to cheer the team on to a win. That dog is from a shelter and is looking for a loving home. GSVS is sponsoring a “Dog of the Day” program this summer at each of the home games for the Trenton Thunder baseball team. Pursuant to this program local animal shelter groups are invited to bring an adoptable dog to the game, the dog is introduced to the baseball fans before the game and fans have the opportunity to adopt this dog or another from the shelter. Information regarding this special dog of the day is provided as well as information on the shelter itself. As a result of the “Dog of the Day” program, 10 dogs have already found loving homes thus far this season. Garden State Veterinary Specialists is honored to be a part of this program.

Animal shelters are a family’s best option for adopting a pet. Not only are there full grown animals but also lots of puppies and kittens ready to find a new home. The Humane Society estimates that there are 6-8 million dogs and cats in shelters throughout the United States. Of that population, approximately 3-4 million are euthanized every year. Many pets at local shelters have been placed there by someone who has been unable to care for the pet they have chosen. Responsible shelters screen animals taken in to their care for health problems and temperament issues before trying to place the pet in a permanent home. In order to ensure a good match between the adoptive family and their chosen pet, shelters may provide adoption counseling and follow-up assistance or will refer you to a provider of these services.

If you are looking for a purebred instead of the “Heinz 57” variety, shelters report that 25-30% of their dog population consists of pedigrees. If there are no animals of the breed type that you are looking for on your first visit to a shelter, don’t be discouraged. Shelters receive new animals on a daily basis. You may be able to be placed on a waiting list and called when an animal that matches your preference arrives. Another alternative is to seek out a purebred rescue group which specializes in the sheltering of a particular breed.

When you contact a rescue group, be certain to find out as much as you can about the group, how it cares for its animals, how it decides which animals are adoptable, and what other adoption and post-adoption services are available. Before you adopt, think. Sharing your life with a companion animal can be a rewarding experience but it is also a responsibility – for the life of the pet.

If you cannot get out to a game to find your next best friend, check out the “Dog of the Day” pictures on the Trenton Thunder website www.trentonthunder.com (under the pictures link).

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the professional advice of your veterinarian.

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