Let’s talk about the age-old question of whether to buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? Following is my humble but heartfelt two cents’ worth. Heads-up, my perspective comes from being up close and personal on the front lines of pet rescue for many decades, so you surely can guess on which side of the debate I firmly stand. But stay with me — I also add a twist.

NOTE: my post does not condemn, but intends only to enlighten and encourage. Please accept my words in the spirit of care and concern for animal welfare that they are given? And please indulge me this moment to advocate for rescue on behalf of those helpless animals that cannot speak for themselves?

The Epidemic Is Way Too Big — How Can I Possibly Make Any Difference?

Think of the backyard BBQ where there are lots and lots of yummie hotdogs on the grill, all cooked and ready to eat. And they’re darned good hotdogs. But a customer walks up and says “I don’t want any of those hotdogs. I want you to cook me a brand new one,” leaving the perfectly good ones on the grill to spoil needlessly. We need to become aware of the ones still on the grill. Simplistic analogy, but you get my point.

As long as shelters continue to be overflowing nationwide — and sadly they are — and homeless animals are being killed simply because there’s no room for them in those shelters, and as long as more and more animals are being discarded by owners out onto the streets and left desperate for us to save them from tragic deaths, I say with the deepest conviction that we should always adopt from shelters and rescue organizations, or invite that little stray into your home — you know, the one that’s been hanging around gazing into your window, hoping desperately for a bite of food or a moment’s kindness?

Who Rescued Whom?

You know, I have found that oftentimes these little souls choose us and not the other way around. It’s happened to me many many times over the years. I encourage you to be sensitive to that notion next time a stray happens across your path — could be you’ve been chosen. It may just be a little angel that God sent to brighten up your life.  🙂

As long as there are vulnerable, desperate lives crying out for our help, it seems unconscionable to me that anyone would special-order a puppy or kitten from a breeder, as if a purebred pet that isn’t even born yet is of more value than a homeless pet, its life literally on the line, usually through no fault of its own. This is my heartfelt belief. But wait — there’s a compromise.

Let’s Do Both!

The twist to my perspective is this: If your preference and desire is genuinely to purchase a purebred cat or dog, by all means, go ahead. It’s not my place to condemn, and I don’t. I’m just asking you to ALSO still adopt a homeless pet. It need not be a choice of “either-or” but how about “hey, let’s get one of each!” Create a happy pet family while being a part of the answer for homeless animals! it’s a win-win and you’re a hero!  yay!

Can you wrap your head around the numbers?  Literally millions of homeless animals are put to death every year because no one chose to save them. Millions … Millions. Let that sink in. Here’s another fact: we could prevent every single one of those needless, heartbreaking deaths if every household would rescue just one homeless pet … just one.  And when you’re hearing such huge numbers thrown around, I get that it’s easy to forget to look at each singular face. Remember, every life matters. Every single one.

What Does Your Conscience Tell You?

Adopting a rescue pet requires a person to become aware and then engage the heart. Folks cannot act appropriately out of a caring conscience when they don’t even know of the epidemic facing abandoned pets every day. I’m in no way saying that folks are hateful and selfish if they don’t rescue. What I am saying is that many folks simply are not aware of the desperate need. That’s what this post is for — to help share.

Awareness Is Key.

I believe in the fundamental goodness of humankind, and I believe that, as more people do become aware, more people will help. I personally want to help educate and enlighten. This BareFootPets blog project is only one of my personal contributions toward the cause.

Certainly in answering the question of “buy versus rescue,” your conscience needs to play a part. It must play a part — to get to the more compassionate answer. You must pro-actively decide to be a part of the solution for rescue and animal welfare.

And you should know, helping is not a burden — helping means saving a little life, giving it a home, loving and caring and protecting it, and receiving abundant love and gratitude in return. This is not a burden — this is a blessing.

From Your Insides Out.

Let me promise you that, once you open your heart and home to a helpless abandoned pet, to watch that little soul come to life again, to see hope and joy, and trust begin to show in his eyes again, and to feel his unspoken yet profound gratitude for the gift you gave him, you will be changed from the inside out … forever. The healing starts with one little life at a time. Be a part of the answer, be the kindness that reaches out to a life that may not survive if you turn away. Am I tugging at your heart strings yet? I’m not trying to be dramatic, but I am trying to emphasize the importance of each life. All life is sacred, and we as humans are obligated to protect and do no harm.

I borrowed this featured image for this post from a fellow rescue organization (Alleys Rescued Angels) who posted the image on Instagram, and I want to give full credit to them for stating it so beautifully — There is no greater legacy to leave than a beating heart that would not have had a chance, had it not been for you.

I Choose To Stand Against The Dark Side Of Humanity.

I have seen things over the years in pet rescue that have nearly stolen my faith in humanity. I have seen every day how vile and ugly human beings can be toward animals. And I’ve suffered greatly for what I’ve seen. But, rather than indulge depression and defeat and a shredded heart, I choose to use that heartbreak to become the difference, to become part of the answer. I choose to let the answer begin with me. If one homeless pet lives because someone read this post and saved him, that’s a big start. That’s a success. That’s an answer to prayer. And it will grow from there. I have faith, and I believe.

Why BareFootPets(TM)?  

The main reason I started the BareFootPets blog project is to share as much first-hand knowledge as possible that I’ve learned in my lifetime of pet rescue — to support and empower pet owners in caring for your pets so that they are less likely to be abandoned or surrendered to shelters or let out onto the streets because of health or behavioral issues. I’ve seen even many purebreds discarded when they became too much to care for, or didn’t behave just as the owner had hoped.

So education is also key, and I point you again to this whole website, where I have designed all of the tips and posts and videos and products to help you preserve and protect your relationship with your pet. I believe if we can better care for our pets, we’ll be more likely to keep them with us in our homes for their whole lives; and then this, along with rescue, together will help to reduce the numbers of homeless pets desperate for that last chance. Sometimes my efforts seem so small and insignificant, but then I look in the face of one of my rescue pets, and I realize that it means the world to that little pet, and that’s where it all needs to begin, with each single little life. It feels amazing to be part of the answer, to be the hero.

Try it.  Be a hero. Choose life for a desperate animal that can’t choose for itself. Thanks for letting me soapbox.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Rescue or Breeder – Where Should I Get My Next Pet? appeared first on BareFootPets.

Your neighbor is neglecting his dog. He leaves her out in the yard 24/7, in all kinds of bad weather, no shelter, no bedding, no toys, water dish is empty, pigeons are eating what’s left of her food, he doesn’t spend time with her or even check on her, she may be chained up and unable to move around just to go pottie, he doesn’t even leave a light on at night for her. Poor dog has no quality of life and may even be in poor physical health for all the neglect. Do you speak up?

Short Answer?

Hell Yes!! Get Involved!! You may very well be the only person to ever come along and help this poor little soul. She could spend the rest of her life hidden away, suffering, if no one sees and no one helps. You could be the angel who saves her. But don’t let your anger lead the charge. Hear Me Clearly–to be successful, you must do it with good sense and with kindness. Yes, kindness.

Use Your Compassion Sensibly.

First, restrain your anger, because no doubt you’ll be feeling a lot of that, and with good reason. But remember–your first concern must be for the dog–not just her current situation, but what will that owner do to her if you complain? Too often, if someone is already severely neglecting an animal, they may not think twice about “getting rid of her” altogether at the first signs of interference. Still, you have to try. You may be the only help she gets.

Kindness, Not Anger.

You don’t want your personal anger to stir up trouble and make the situation worse for her. So, regardless the anger you probably feel, you need to count to ten and tread lightly so as not to endanger the dog further. Even though you feel justified and you probably would be justified morally, it’s not as easy as just walking her out of that situation. There are legal issues, and emotional issues too.

Always approach such situations with kindness and compassion. You must dig deep and find a way to set aside your emotions and personal opinions in order to advocate wisely for the dog. If you can express your concern genuinely and with a spirit of kindness, it will show. And the dog’s owner is less likely to feel threatened by your intentions. Also understand and be prepared for your “intervention” to be a process that takes some time to resolve. Patience and grace are called for in these situations.

NEVER EVER JUDGE.

Try not to have any ill will toward the dog’s owner. If you approach this person in anger and with accusations, you’ve lost the battle right there, and now the dog could be in imminent danger. Remember–this is not about you and your anger or even about being right. It’s not. But it IS about saving the animal. So stay focused on that and you’ll do fine. Find out what you can about the situation. There could be more to it than meets the eye, and your rush to judgment may be misplaced.

How the owner responds to you when you approach them can depend a bit on the relationship you may already have with them. If you’re on cordial or friendly terms, you may be able to approach them in a spirit of compassion and wanting to be helpful. Maybe they have something unpleasant or difficult going in their lives and perhaps they might welcome your offer of help. In that case, simply offer to care for the dog for awhile, or to find the dog a new home long-term if that might be what they need, or maybe offer to just provide some food or cash for veterinary bills, vaccinations, etc.  Maybe they’ll agree to let you take her out several times a week for walks to keep her social and happy.

The Owners May Be Suffering, Too.

Although it’s not an excuse, it can be the reason. Oftentimes, if people are struggling with family or financial issues, they’ll be grateful for your gesture, as long as it’s given in kindness. In that case, by offering your help, you become a good samaritan for the whole family. On the other hand, the owner may not have any compelling excuse for neglecting his dog, and he may just be a total jerk. Still, be kind, don’t provoke. Focus on getting the dog safely away from him.

Helping out in small ways initially can build trust and ensure the dog’s safety until you’re able to progress with the dog’s owner toward finding a more permanent solution. Use your instincts and, as I’ve already said, always speak and act out of kindness.

What If The Situation Is Critical?

If the dog is already in grave danger, then building trust slowly isn’t going to work. You need to act quickly.  If you’re comfortable enough talking with the owner and asking if they’ll turn the dog over to you right then and there, by all means give it a shot. If you don’t know how they would respond, or perhaps you’ve already tried unsuccessfully to talk with them, then you’ll need to engage authorities.

Contact any animal welfare agency and ask for assistance. If you don’t get responses right away, and you’re certain the situation needs to be dealt with here and now, then call your police department and ask them to escort you to the property to do a welfare check on the dog. An officer can help you reason with the owner and hopefully convince them to turn the dog over to you.

Document Your Complaint.

Also, if possible, take photos of the dog and its living conditions. Photos that show the neglect. Show these to the officers if the owner refuses to give access to the dog. Trust the officers to intervene–they’re trained to deal with all types of situations and personalities.

If the owner still refuses to turn over the dog after a visit from you and the police department, at least he knows now he’s being watched and held accountable. You may even want to let him know about the photos you took. That can be a very good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. Oftentimes, owners will ditch the animal and you’ll never know what became of her.

I’m Worried About Repercussions For Interfering.

If you think the neighbor would retaliate against you for “sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong,” then enlist the help of other neighbors. If a group of you steps up collectively, that would take the focus off you directly and also maybe open the dog owner’s eyes to how serious the problem actually is. Knowing he’s being watched closely on all sides at any hour of every day may reduce the chance he’ll take it out on the dog. He may even clean the yard up and start treating her better.

Or, if that doesn’t feel like an option, then lodge a complaint anonymously. If the dog owner is a renter, contact his landlord to report the situation. Or call the police department to report it as a silent witness and ask them to do a welfare check without giving your name. These are excellent options to protect your identity and still find help for the dog.

Whatever The Outcome … 

Human nature can be unpredictable. Having been involved in pet rescue for decades, I feel like I’ve seen the absolute worst of humanity, and not much surprises me anymore. Still, I like to believe that most people are good and will respond favorably to kindness and a compassionate approach. It’s a very fine line we walk when trying to advocate for neglected and abused animals. Just do your best, be patient, be kind, and beyond that don’t beat yourself up if the happy ending doesn’t come right away. You didn’t do this to her–leave the blame where it belongs, be faithful, and just keep trying.

Good Luck and God Bless for stepping up for an innocent life that might have no chance … but for you.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Do I Speak Up Or Stay Quiet? appeared first on BareFootPets.