Dogs for sale. A phrase that kills millions of dogs in the United States every year.
It's not that people mean to kill animals, but with every purchased dog, is another one who is put to sleep for the lack of room in shelters and the lack of love available in the world.
This blog will be a quick one, as it's a simple concept.
People can still have their purebred dogs and their cute little puppies, they should just look in a different place for them. Most people look for the Internet ad that says "Puppies for sale" or the AKC posting for a notable breeder, but even if breeders are following all of the rules, they are still not doing the right thing by having animals reproduce at a time when the nation euthanizes millions of animals, and there are still millions of unwanted animals caged in shelters.
Puppies and purebreds aren't bad, they can just already be found at shelters, so don't buy a purebred or a puppy - do your research, look for a breed rescue, a puppy rescue, just rescue the newest member of your family and save a life, rather than buy one.
The Humane Society of the United States reports that 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred, which amounts to almost 2 million purebreds in shelters each year (and about 1 million that die in shelters annually).
When you work with a breeder, you're waiting for your little one to be born when there is another little one (equally as purebred and cute) already sitting in a cage wishing for its forever family. Think about saving that one instead.
If there comes a time when there are no puppies or purebreds dying in shelters across America, maybe breeders will have a place. Until that day, have your dog and save one, too ... adopt, don't buy.
June 29, 2011
June 20, 2011
Give Wildlife a Break
On Sunday, Brandon and I drove down to the Outlets at Castlerock. On our way we saw a beautiful deer on an embankment on the side of the road - my awe of this incredible creature soon turned to pure terror as I realized that cars were screaming by her at 70+ mph. I watched speechless out my side rear mirror as she nearly bolted into traffic and then quickly darted back. Safe for now, but I suddenly became so angry - so conflicted - about being part of this human race.
My drive to the Nike Outlet was just as consumer-oriented as the next person, and I rely on our highways as much as anyone else, but I realized at that moment the sheer impact of humans on the world around us.
I read an article a couple weeks ago about relocating prairie dogs to make mass transit to the Denver International Airport. On the article comments people posted that they would like to use the prairie dogs for shooting practice and similar ignorant ideas. As humans, we have become arrogant that our way of life should supersede all else, and we should take a step back to think about that.
Each year in the United States, there are about 253,000 vehicle-animal collisions and another 1 million vertebrates are run over every day in our country, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.
While it's impractical to think that we should all hang up our keys and park our cars for good, it's important for us to realize that we are also not alone in this world and that we need to do everything we can to be more aware of our surroundings. I have to take my hat off to some of the work being done by the USDOT Federal Highway Administration, as they have made an effort to make more signage noting wildlife populated areas, as well as pulled together a report on Linking Habitats and Reducing Roadkill (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifecrossings/main.htm). The report outlines how some communities have been able to add tunnels, underpasses and culverts to allow animals to naturally migrate and avoid highways.
Reducing the amount of animal-vehicle collisions will save millions of animals annually and hundreds of humans who also die in these accidents. Like everything else, knowledge is power, so encourage people to support these types of programs, so we can keep our roadways safer for all.
When we drove back by the area where the deer had been gracefully running just an hour earlier, she laid there on the side of the road. A car stopped behind her, her body lifeless. I cried for her - I was angry for her.
I decided to use her as a way to teach others that roadkill may be part of our society, but it doesn't have to continue. There are ways we can end this, just like every other challenge we face.
My drive to the Nike Outlet was just as consumer-oriented as the next person, and I rely on our highways as much as anyone else, but I realized at that moment the sheer impact of humans on the world around us.
I read an article a couple weeks ago about relocating prairie dogs to make mass transit to the Denver International Airport. On the article comments people posted that they would like to use the prairie dogs for shooting practice and similar ignorant ideas. As humans, we have become arrogant that our way of life should supersede all else, and we should take a step back to think about that.
Each year in the United States, there are about 253,000 vehicle-animal collisions and another 1 million vertebrates are run over every day in our country, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.
While it's impractical to think that we should all hang up our keys and park our cars for good, it's important for us to realize that we are also not alone in this world and that we need to do everything we can to be more aware of our surroundings. I have to take my hat off to some of the work being done by the USDOT Federal Highway Administration, as they have made an effort to make more signage noting wildlife populated areas, as well as pulled together a report on Linking Habitats and Reducing Roadkill (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/wildlifecrossings/main.htm). The report outlines how some communities have been able to add tunnels, underpasses and culverts to allow animals to naturally migrate and avoid highways.
Reducing the amount of animal-vehicle collisions will save millions of animals annually and hundreds of humans who also die in these accidents. Like everything else, knowledge is power, so encourage people to support these types of programs, so we can keep our roadways safer for all.
When we drove back by the area where the deer had been gracefully running just an hour earlier, she laid there on the side of the road. A car stopped behind her, her body lifeless. I cried for her - I was angry for her.
I decided to use her as a way to teach others that roadkill may be part of our society, but it doesn't have to continue. There are ways we can end this, just like every other challenge we face.
June 18, 2011
Be Part of the Solution
Solving pet overpopulation is surprisingly simple, but the complexity is in getting people to understand the need and to take action.
So, let's start with the easy part first.
To create a society that would never have to put a pet down, we would need to:
1. Spay and neuter all dogs and cats
2. Always adopt pets from rescues and shelters
3. Never buy from a breeder or a pet store (aka. puppy mill)
4. Shut down puppy mills
Four simple steps really and honestly, they are a little repetitive ... we really just need to always adopt, never buy and make sure all animals are fixed.
One female dog can produce nearly 4,000 puppies in her lifetime, and male dogs can father countless litters. Spaying and neutering is so important because we are at a point with pet overpopulation that for every puppy born, another pet is sentenced to death.
We all know that it's good to adopt and not buy, but we have to understand why, and we have to take it upon ourselves to not be afraid to spread this knowledge and to ask everyone we know to do the same.
I hope I see the day when people truly understand the consequences of breeders and puppy mills, of not spay and neutering, and that their actions make a statement. I hope to see the day that there is enough love in the world for all pets.
Last year 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in the United States - there are just as many still in shelters without a place to call home.
That is my motivation to change this.
So, let's start with the easy part first.
To create a society that would never have to put a pet down, we would need to:
1. Spay and neuter all dogs and cats
2. Always adopt pets from rescues and shelters
3. Never buy from a breeder or a pet store (aka. puppy mill)
4. Shut down puppy mills
Four simple steps really and honestly, they are a little repetitive ... we really just need to always adopt, never buy and make sure all animals are fixed.
One female dog can produce nearly 4,000 puppies in her lifetime, and male dogs can father countless litters. Spaying and neutering is so important because we are at a point with pet overpopulation that for every puppy born, another pet is sentenced to death.
We all know that it's good to adopt and not buy, but we have to understand why, and we have to take it upon ourselves to not be afraid to spread this knowledge and to ask everyone we know to do the same.
I hope I see the day when people truly understand the consequences of breeders and puppy mills, of not spay and neutering, and that their actions make a statement. I hope to see the day that there is enough love in the world for all pets.
Last year 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in the United States - there are just as many still in shelters without a place to call home.
That is my motivation to change this.
June 17, 2011
Facts are Important
Passion has always been the foundation for me when it comes to animals. I have always hated people who abuse animals, I have always cried when I heard stories about animals in pain, I have always had a difficult time walking into a shelter and not wanting to come out with every animal.
However, facts are what has helped me take my passion to a new - arguably more rational level - in advocating and making a difference for animals.
It's hard to hear statistics about Colorado euthanizing 40,000 animals a year - even harder when you think about that only being one state and that 3-4 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States, according to the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/overpopulation_estimates.html).
It's even harder to watch a YouTube video of animals being euthanized, which I did for the first time about a week ago. I don't think this is for everyone, but for me, it gave me peace in watching that with humane practices there is someone comforting the animal and that it is fast and overall painless.
While I am a huge supporter of no-kill shelters, there is also a place for kill shelters, which I will address in a blog post all of it's own, but just know that any way you look at it, there are not enough homes for the 6-8 million animals in US shelters annually. There is no quality of life for dogs and cats to live in a cage for their entire life - they deserve so much better. The problem is not euthanizing animals - it sadly has to happen because there are too many animals - the problem is people no spay and neutering their pets, and the problem is breeders who irresponsibly make money off the demise of animals in shelters. Every time someone encourages breeders by purchasing a puppy, they are in-turn killing a puppy in a shelter.
I have many friends who have purchased their furry friends - and seven years ago, I did the same - but, knowing that there is an equally amazing dog in a shelter is the first step in creating a society that values animal rescue.
Some other facts to have in your back pocket:
- 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred! (See no breeder necessary - you can rescue a purebred!)
- 6-8 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year.
- 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized by shelters annually.
- 3-4 million dogs and cats are ADOPTED from shelters each year!
- There are about 3,500 animals shelters in the US
However, facts are what has helped me take my passion to a new - arguably more rational level - in advocating and making a difference for animals.
It's hard to hear statistics about Colorado euthanizing 40,000 animals a year - even harder when you think about that only being one state and that 3-4 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States, according to the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/overpopulation_estimates.html).
It's even harder to watch a YouTube video of animals being euthanized, which I did for the first time about a week ago. I don't think this is for everyone, but for me, it gave me peace in watching that with humane practices there is someone comforting the animal and that it is fast and overall painless.
While I am a huge supporter of no-kill shelters, there is also a place for kill shelters, which I will address in a blog post all of it's own, but just know that any way you look at it, there are not enough homes for the 6-8 million animals in US shelters annually. There is no quality of life for dogs and cats to live in a cage for their entire life - they deserve so much better. The problem is not euthanizing animals - it sadly has to happen because there are too many animals - the problem is people no spay and neutering their pets, and the problem is breeders who irresponsibly make money off the demise of animals in shelters. Every time someone encourages breeders by purchasing a puppy, they are in-turn killing a puppy in a shelter.
I have many friends who have purchased their furry friends - and seven years ago, I did the same - but, knowing that there is an equally amazing dog in a shelter is the first step in creating a society that values animal rescue.
Some other facts to have in your back pocket:
- 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred! (See no breeder necessary - you can rescue a purebred!)
- 6-8 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year.
- 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized by shelters annually.
- 3-4 million dogs and cats are ADOPTED from shelters each year!
- There are about 3,500 animals shelters in the US
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