“It’s just a dog.”
“There are so many starving kids. You should take care of humans before animals.”
“Why bother neutering them? Or feeding them? Feral cats should fend for themselves.”
“Shelter dogs have problems. That’s why they’re in the shelter in the first place.”
If you’re even on the periphery of animal welfare, I’m sure you’ve heard sentiments like that. Heck, you’ve probably heard worse than that. None of it, of course, is true.
The truth is: One life matters.
The life of a shelter dog or of a stray cat is no less valuable than any other, and until we have a bit culture shift to acknowledge that, shelter pets will continue to languish – and die – in shelters and pounds across the country.
Emmett spent two years in shelters. First, in a high-kill county pound, then – lucky him – because someone fell in love with him, he got placed in a no-kill shelter where we found him. Lucas found himself in a similarly lucky situation. Found rooting through the trash in a North Carolina backyard, he was taken to a shelter that had a transfer program. He found himself not in the gas chamber but on a transport to a DC shelter where we found him a couple months later.
{{Excuse me while I climb up my soapbox.}}
There are so many dogs like Emmett and Lucas and stray cats like Newt and backyard-bred dogs like Cooper whose lives are no less valuable than any other, but because of a culture that says “they’re just animals,” so many of those pets will never find a family. They’ll live out what little time they have in a shelter, not knowing the love, warmth, and companionship that comes from a home. As a society, we need to realize that loving life – ALL life – makes us better humans. Any opportunity to utilize our compassion and empathy for someone in need makes us better people, even if that someone is a pet. But there seems to be a gap in our culture that devalues animals. And we’re much poorer for it.
October is “Adopt a Shelter Pet” month.
If you’re here reading, you’re probably one who values animal life, but this month is an opportunity for those of us who pour love and compassion into valuing animals to educate our friends and family. Dispel those myths about shelter dogs and cats, seniors who need homes, FIV+ cats, and all those puppies and kittens born – through no fault of their own – to people unwilling or unable to care for them.
Adopt a shelter pet.
Because one life matters.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by BlogPaws. I am being compensated to support Adopt a Shelter Pet Month with an educational post, but OhMyDog! only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.
OMG! That is why I LOVE your blog!!!!! My goodness, you nailed it right here! I was flabbergasted the other day with a discussion about only show dogs having the right to reproduce!!!! I believe ANY living being has the right to reproduce. If there are prospective homes for mutt puppies, then why not? Please, please tell me… am I wrong????
The issue with that, Nadja, is that there are already too many dogs and cats that need homes due to irresponsible individuals allowing their animals to breed. Until shelters never are over capacity and have waiting lists no one needs to deliberately breed mixed breed dogs. There is no shortage of them.
Yes, Jodi! I see your point, thank you!
You’re right that most of us reading this already feel the same way – the challenge is in changing the attitude of the general public, of talking the casual dog owner out of the purebred they think they want because they saw it in a movie.
I am just floored when people I know go to a breeder for a designer-poo mutt or order a puppy off the internet. As much as I would love to raise a puppy from a responsible breeder one day, I just don’t see how I can turn away from the countless faces I see needing rescue every single day.
Besides, now I want about ten potcakes 🙂
My husband and I were just talking about the false dichotomy of “why spend money on a dog when that money could be used to help humans?” The truth is, we have plenty of money on this planet to save every dog and human. We just lack the will.
Thanks for a post that builds will power.
We have the money, it’s just still in our pockets. EVERY life matters!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Love this. They are not “just” anything.
I love this. One life does matter, and each and every life matters. I also love your thought that loving all life makes us better humans. So true.