It’s hard not to change the channel when Sarah McLaughlin sings “In the Arms of an Angel” as heartbreaking pictures cascade across your TV of animals that can’t fend for themselves. That sadness passes, though, and many return to their lives without ever thinking “I can change that.” It seems that the idea of changing such large issues like animal cruelty awareness and increased support of pet adoption shelters can’t happen with one person, but could you find me the quote that says one person can’t make a difference? Whether on a small scale or a large scale, the steps a person can take in helping domesticated animals is going to make a difference to that animal or the local shelter, possibly even that elderly couple that is having trouble feeding their cat. Or maybe the family that has lost their puppy after a hurricane and someone found her and brought her to a local shelter in hopes her owner would soon find her again.

                All too often humane societies and animal shelters have more animals than they can efficiently take care of and provide for. Do they stop taking animals? In most cases, no, they scrimp and save to do the best that they can to help these homeless animals, keeping arms open for needy pets. They rely so much on donations and volunteers in order to keep these potential pets from meeting an unfortunate fate. With seemingly more pet shops with cute purebred puppies than animal shelters helping abandoned and mistreated animals, so many loving families overlook adopting a cute little “fella” yearning for some loving arms and a permanent home. It’s upsetting to myself and so many other individuals that have grown up adopting dogs from the local shelter rather than paying thousands at a pet shop where dogs have spent their entire lives in a box with all their necessities provided daily (in a business that has a permanent income there is no reason for neglect, though sadly, it has happened before). Those puppies need homes too, but with such large price tags there is no reason for a family to go without a dog or cat just because they don’t have upwards of $3,000+ (yes that is three zeros) to spend. And what about older dogs without homes? Has their value gone down along with their cuteness factor just because they are no longer 3 months old?

                Pet shops and breeders are for some people, but they have never been for my family. Currently we have two dogs we adopted in the past few years. Maxi, our Cocker Spaniel, was 3 years old when we adopted him from “CockerPals,” a rescue agency located in Yonkers, NY. He was abused by a previous owner, and then abandoned when the owner moved out of the country. Initially, he was very nervous and timid (the first thing he did was water our kitchen floor to christen his new home), but that doesn’t at all change his capacity to be loved and love in return. He’s happy and outgoing, and 5 years later you would never know that he was once beaten. I remember when we first got him. Being in fourth grade, it was depressing to me to think that someone hit this loving creature when he has no means to fight back but a set of teeth that he has never used on a person. (Except the occasional nip when he’s getting a treat; he’s a big boy and loves his treats). Our second dog we got about two years after Maxi is a Jack Russell Terrier named Jack; yes, it’s the most creative name ever, please be jealous. This time we didn’t get him from a shelter, but we saw an ad in the paper looking for a home for a “hyper” dog. When we got to the family’s home to adopt Jack, they explained to us that he was not good with children, was very wild, and difficult to take care of. He’s a joy with all people so long as they don’t pull his tail or be rough with him, as with many dogs. He is wild and rowdy and has so much energy, but never once has he been difficult to take care of. Many of the things the young family explained were “wrong” with him were all the kinds of things that come with having a puppy, and are even more common with the Jack Russell breed, but I don’t see those characteristics as flaws. If you treat animals well and don’t pull on their tails and get in their faces, they are going to love you just as much as you love them. People and animals are not cruel by nature, but rather just as a product of their environment. You get what you give, and adoption is so rewarding, not only to the animal, but also the person knowing that he or she may have saved a life. Currently, we are looking to adopt a third (and if I can pout and beg enough, maybe a fourth, so wish me and my Bambi pout luck!) member of our family, and the umpteenth rescue/adoption for my family.

                Now, enough about my own story, I had the pleasure of talking to Mrs. Pacuk, a fourth grade teacher in Edward J. Arthur Elementary School about her own experiences and thoughts about adoption. She brought up this idea of more or less “supply and demand” in the animal world that I can’t put in a better way: “If people would adopt from shelters, the demand to breeders would decrease. People need to spay and neuter so we don’t have an over population.” It seems like such a simple idea, adopt the dogs that are already existing and in desperate need of a home because “while puppies are cute, they do their damage…older dogs are just as much fun without the damage and work of a puppy.” 

                So often people dive into pet ownership for the fun of it all and buy a puppy, then realize their schedules don’t fit with caring for something that depends solely on them. The same happens with kittens, birds and reptiles. There is responsibility that comes with pets and it is often overlooked in the commotion of welcoming a new animal in the house. Often animals are in shelters because pet parenthood wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies, but rather fun, companionship, feedings and messy floors and less-than-desirable cleanups. The list goes on and on, but the idea is simple: with the good come the less favorable tasks. However, for many that isn’t a deal breaker in the slightest.

                If you don’t have the time a pet needs, or if you don’t have the love an animal strives for, then owning one may not be for you but you may still want to help out. You can volunteer your time to shelters and humane societies. My personal favorite is the Hudson-Mohawk Humane society in Menands (a 5 minute drive from Albany). While growing up we have provided homes for around 5 dogs from this shelter alone because of the compassion they show for every animal that comes through their doors. By no means is this the only local shelter that cares for their animals and provides homes for dozens upon dozens of pets, and if you don’t have the time to volunteer many shelters have websites that include ways to donate and lists of items they need the most – some needs are as simple as a shoe box! No matter your situation there is always a way you can make some kind of a difference in your community. Just remember, a million concerned whispers add up to large bellowing voice.

 A final thought I would like to express is, if the thought of ever hitting, kicking or abusing in ANY way a defenseless animal has ever crossed your mind please by all means stay away from pets that depend on you. That kind of power shouldn’t make you feel big, and if it does please think about yourself having no defenses against your sole provider while they abuse you over and over for doing no wrong. Doesn’t seem like its fair. If you wouldn’t do it to a person, why would you do it to creatures that can’t stand on their own, and if you know of situations where this is happening, DO SOMETHING! Anonymous tips can be left at police stations as well as with the animal control centers; abuse and neglect towards domesticated animals are punishable under Buster’s Law.