5 THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ANIMAL RESCUE BECAUSE, WELL..., I DIDN'T KNOW....

I will never forget my childhood companion - Sparkee. My sweet little dashund. I remember being woken up one summer morning by a commotion outside around this little peanut of a puppy. She came from a local pet store because that's where you get pets - at a pet store. 

You don't know what you don't know. And we didn't know how many dogs awaited death at local shelters or were living in cages day after day because there just aren't enough homes. Sparkee was my everything growing up and I miss her dearly. GREAT dogs come from pet stores and breeders - the only problem is that buying them that way keeps that business running while other GREAT dogs are being killed on a daily basis for no other reason than lack of space and services. I only know this now because I've seen these poor beings alive one day and in a garbage bag the next. When dogs join the Black Rhino and the Eastern Lowland Gorilla (totally had to google that) on the critically endangered species list, let's think about breeding. 

As I stated before, you don't know what you don't know. I'm not here to judge but to let you know. 

1. Not all shelter/rescue dogs are pit bulls. I pretty much share only pit bulls because I absolutely adore the breed. I truly believe they have the perfect temperament/personality. They are fun and playful yet chill and lazy. Also, I feel like they are the underdogs of the world, and who doesn't root for the underdog?  However, there are breed specific rescue groups. If you are looking for a specific breed check to see if there is a rescue group first. With just a google search I found a rescue group for golden retrievers, basset hounds, pugs, greyhounds, etc. 

2. Not all shelter/rescue dogs are broken. I'm honestly guessing my "rescue" pitbull was breed and then given up because of XYZ. Hard to tell for sure but there are a ton out there. People buy dogs, don't truly realize the commitment, and surrender them to a shelter thinking they are doing a good thing. It's a "shelter" such a warm fuzzy feeling of a word. Are there shelter/rescue dogs with issues? For sure, but hey, you try going through a life of neglect, mistreatment, minimal social interactions, minimal physical activity, poor nutrition, etc. and tell me that wouldn't affect a human being. Good news is that dogs are a very forgiving species. 

3. You can't get a puppy from a shelter/rescue - WRONG. Stray dogs become pregnant or people breed them and unable to sell all the puppies. And just a suggestion - puppies, as insanely cute as they are, are A LOT OF WORK. Constant work. 24/7 work. Shoe chewing, floor pooping, sharp teeth nipping pain in the necks! Most rescue/dogs 1 year + are over that phase.

4. All rescue/shelter dogs have health problems. Maybe, but at least it'll probably be figured out and identified before they place that sweet soul in your care. They will normally be fully vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and have had a full physical exam so you know what you're getting. 

5. You'll be able to get a better match. Although rescue dogs are desperate for homes, rescues do their best to make a perfect match . It's difficult sometimes but most rescues can tell if a particular dog will do better in a single pet home, a home with no children, an active home, and more quiet home, etc. There is a lid for every pot. 

DISCLAIMER, because I know people may tar and feather things they don't like to hear.
For the record I am no professional or expert dog rescue person. I am just someone who cares and wants to share things I've learned through volunteering and being more involved with animal adoptions. I am personally more drawn to dogs (specifically pitbulls) but the same applies to other animals/pets. 

I understand the world has bigger fish to fry, like global warming and say, terrorism, but in the words of Mother Teresa - excuse me, SAINT Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

​PLEASE - Don't shop - Adopt!

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