Tia cheated on me this morning. Yes. She walked, played with, and scratched the bellies of other dogs. I was so hurt…until she explained. Tia and her friend went to the Ft. Sill Animal Shelter and volunteered their time to help out those pets that need homes! She even got to hold little puppies and they chewed on her shoe laces. I will have to have Tia explain to those little rascals that those are my shoes to chew on as I wish. She said there were cats there too and she held them and cleaned their cages. Then she walked a couple of dogs that are waiting for the perfect people to come adopt them. I was a lot less upset about all the other animal smells on her once she explained the whole situation. I remember how it was before Tia and Dave rescued me…I was alone and scared and I had no idea when my next meal would come! I hope that all those cats and dogs are adopted by amazing people like my owners :) I happen to know for a fact that rescued pets are the best pets ever because we are so appreciative of our new owners.
Tia said it was really sad to see so many pets that had been surrendered by their previous owners to the shelter. It makes me want to trot up to those owners and pee on their shoes….or something. I think that once you take a pet into your home then you have made a promise to that pet that you will care for them and provide food, shelter, water, veterinary care, and love for the rest of that pets life! Yes, there are some circumstances that would require an owner to find a new home for their pet…but they are few and far between. I have heard that some people get kittens or puppies and then don’t realize that these animals will get bigger and have long term needs like walking, playing, and vet visits. So, those people just dump off this pet to the nearest shelter. Grrr…getting a pet is a wonderful thing but you have to make sure that you are ready for this long term commitment! This is a living, breathing, loving creature that you are agreeing to care for, not a mere possession that can be forgotten or abandoned.
Sigh…at least there are the amazing people at shelters like the Ft. Sill Shelter that have devoted their time to caring for these needy animals and finding them new BETTER homes. If you agree with me, which you should, then you can help out abandoned or lost pets in your area too! First, you can call your local shelter and ask about their volunteer program. Sometimes they will require some paperwork and ask you to attend a short training class and other times they will get you started right away. Shelter animals need lots of attention and love. Since most of their time is spent in cages, it’s a real treat when volunteers come to walk the dogs and hold the cats. As you know animals do a lot of eating which then means a lot of pooping…so they need help cleaning too :) So next time you come home to an empty house or apartment and feel the need for a furry companion, consider adopting a dog or cat! Buying from a breeder or (shudder) pet store is ridiculous when there are so many pets who are ready to worship and adore you at your local shelter.
Here is the info for the Ft. Sill Animal Shelter
Fort Sill Stray Pet Facility
832 Macomb Rd., 580-442-3340
Mon-Fri, 8am-11am; 1pm-3:30pm
Closed the last working day of each month.
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