You might call me an animal lover, or at the very least a pet lover. Some may cite my affinity for barbeque as a violation of the former, but I do appreciate the pig and thank it for being delicious.  I am the kind of person that goes to a house party and ends up playing with the cat…

Throughout the years, we Chapmans have taken in a variety of dogs, cats, ducks, geese, and horses.  Some have been great, others not so much, but they have been family just the same.

It was certainly keeping with tradition to adopt a few of my own once I moved out.  You can see the pair pictured above.  The dog is Lucy.  She was separated from her mother as a puppy and wound up in the garage of our friends.  Her lineage is a mystery, but we enjoy guessing.  The smaller one is Artimus (named after the Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer), a Humane Society kitten. He is the coolest.  Until the human versions arrive, Allison and I refer to these two as our “furry children.”

I woke up this morning to a news story featuring Birmingham’s branch of The Emergency Animal Rescue (TEARS) and their current dire straits.  The organization is in desperate need of food for cats, dogs, horses, and a host of other oddball pets (goats, pigs, mules, etc.) that have been abandoned or abused.  If you are not familiar with TEARS, they are much like the Humane Society, but work closer with special cases.

This was a timely reminder for a topic I wanted to explore here at DoGoodedness – animal adoption.  If you are in the market for a new pet, please consider going to your local Humane Society first before looking at pet stores and breeders.  Admittedly, I have owned both pedigrees and mixes over the years.  The expensive ones have been just as loveable as those that were picked up from a shelter (in several cases – dumber and more injury prone).  The fact of the matter is that the animal from a breeder won’t be put to sleep after a few weeks, but the ones at the Humane Society will if someone doesn’t adopt them.  Save money and a furry life. Win-win!  If you want more reasons, give this a read.

Unless you plan on becoming a breeder, let me also suggest that you get your animals fixed.  To quote Bob Barker, a passionate animal rights activist, and his signature signoff “Help control the pet population.  Have your pets spayed or neutered.”  It may seem like an unnecessary expense up front, but you will thank me later.  Let it also be noted that most animals up for adoption at the Humane Society have already undergone this procedure.

Now, I certainly will not cast stones if you choose to pay for a purebred animal.  These will eventually need good homes as well.  All I ask is that you consider a rescue one as well.

Look at this face and tell it no!

All the best to you and yours.

DoGood!

matt

Please email me with any feedback, suggestions, criticism, or comments: Matt@DoGoodedness.com