Pendleton-Gazette.com Pendleton, Indiana's Online Magazine and News Service Julie's Corner 10-16-2005

Pet Adoption

I was just looking around on line one day when I came across the Humane Society of Indianapolis.  They have a wonderful site called (www.indyhumane.org )   This site is laid out fantastic.  They have a picture of the dog, the approx. age, the breed mix or type and a picture of the dog or cat (or guinea pig/hamster) too. 

I found a 12 year old Boston Terrier named Bee Bee.  Well, since I already have Boston Terriers, I HAD to go get her.  I just couldn’t leave her there.

We went to the Humane Society of Indianapolis where she was located.  It is a fantastic setting with a dog park included.  It is possible to go through the facility and look at all the animals for adoption.

We located Bee Bee.  Each animal at the Indy Humane Society has a card on the front of their enclosure.  That card will tell about each animal.  It will tell if they have health problems, if they do not “play well with others”, or need to be an only dog.

We located the kennel help and told them that we had came to get Bee Bee.  The staff made sure that we knew she had health problems.  This is where it gets tough at times folks.  This is where you separate the “men from the boys”.  Do you love pets enough to take home an older animal knowing that it needs a forever home but might not be around a long time?  This will be one of the decisions that you have to make prior to adoption.

At the Humane Society, they will microchip your dog so that if it gets lost, it can be scanned at the vet’s office and the family located easily.  The Society works with local vets to give access to low cost spay or neuter programs. 

The fee to adopt can vary from place to place but at the Indy Humane Society, it runs approx. $100 dollars.  For that money, a pet is brought home heartworm checked, with vaccinations and microchipped. 

We brought Bee Bee Ann home.  Best decision that we ever made.  Bee Bee didn’t live a long time but she gave us a lot of love.  She let us know that she was thankful to have her “wandering” days overwith.  Every heard the song title, “You Had Me From Hello”?  Well, she had us from the first lick.

Go to your local animal shelter or humane society.  Give it a chance.  You don’t have anything to loose but your heart.

Another way to obtain a pet is to search out the rescue groups.  They will go in to shelters and pick up specific breeds of dogs.  For example…Poodle Rescue, Doberman Rescue, Cairn Terrier Rescue…!  The organizations can be found on line for the specific breed.  The internet site will give important information on what it takes to adopt from them.  They will talk with you, some do home visits, to make sure that you can give their dog the best possible home.  Their goal is to place the dog in a forever home.  A home that the dog is welcome in and will never have to leave until it lives out its life. 

If you want to search out rescue groups for breed specific dogs, go to your favorite search engine (I use www.dogpile.com) and type in Resuce+Organizations+the type of breed.  Use that as your initial jump to finding the type of dog that you want.  Check out the various organizations.  See who is nearest to you.  It doesn’t mean that if a dog is located in Delaware, you won’t be able to obtain it.  Many rescue organizations have “volunteer transporters) who will meet you part of the way and bring your dog.

Dog adoptions are a fantastic way to obtain a pet.  These are animals that need homes.  They will love you as much if not more than the high dollar puppy bought at a breeders.

Julie

If you have a question contact Julie at juliepnjcf@lycos.com