When you make the decision to adopt a pet, hopefully you don’t make it lightly and do the very best you can to give your new companion a forever home.  Adopting a dog and then turning around in a few years and dumping him off at the pound because you no longer want to spend the time it takes to take care of him is just plain cruel and only contributes to the problems of pet overpopulation and overcrowding in shelters.

When you make the decision to adopt an animal, you are committing to taking care of them for the rest of their life.

Unfortunately, life is unpredictable and you very well may find yourself in a situation where you absolutely cannot continue caring for your pet. If you happen to find yourself in such a situation, simply giving up your dog to the pound is not a decision you should take lightly.

Rethink Re-homing

Many people give up their dogs because they feel that they don’t have the energy to deal with behavioral problems. Unless age or other physical or mental ailments are preventing you from taking care of them, you have some options. There are a lot of things you can do to change the unwanted behavior. Consult with a reputable trainer or consider going through obedience training with your dog. Training is just as much about training the owner as it is about training the dog so take some time to work together to achieve the results you are after.

Consider what is truly in the best interest of your dog. If you are considering rehoming your dog because you are in a situation that forces you to move into a small apartment, ask yourself if living in an apartment with you is worse than going to the shelter and risking not ever being adopted back out. The answer is likely to be no. You can always take your pup on long walks outside so he gets the exercise he needs.

Find a New Forever-Home

If circumstances absolutely won’t let you continue caring for your dog, try to adopt him out to your own contacts first. It’s likely that some of your family and friends have a connection with your dog already and you will know that he is going to a good home.  Petfinder.com is another avenue you can take to find him a new home while you are talking to friends and family.

Don’t just give him up to the first person who wants to take him. Make sure he is going to a good home first. Screen potential adopters and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. You may even want to ask for references and visit their home to make sure you are giving your dog up to a good home. Most potential adopters will understand and if they don’t, there is probably something going on that wouldn’t make them the best match for your dog.

You may not find your dog the perfect forever-home right away but don’t get discouraged and give up! Finding a new home for your pet will take a considerable amount of time and effort but finding the best home for your dog is worth it.

Shelter as a Last Resort

You should only take your pet to a shelter as a last resort. Remember that the number of animals that need homes far outweighs the number of people looking to adopt so when you take your pet to a shelter you run the risk of him never being adopted out.

Most shelters are running at full capacity and often have to euthanize other animals to make room for the incoming ones. Before you choose a shelter do your homework. Does the shelter use euthanasia as a form of animal control or do they classify themselves as a “no-kill” shelter? How do they classify adoptable pets versus non-adoptable pets? Even if your pet seems perfectly adoptable to you, a shelter might deem them as non-adoptable because of something as simple as a cold or tooth decay. These are all things you should consider before signing over ownership of your pet.

If you do take your dog to the pet shelter, don’t lie about why you’re there. Saying that you are giving him up because he isn’t good with kids or cats when that isn’t true will only make the adoption process more difficult.  The more information the shelter has, the more likely they will be able to adopt out your dog.

Author Bio:

Ron Rutherford is a writer with a passion for nature and a soft spot for Thai food.  He currently freelances for havahartwireless.com, which specializes in dog doors. In his spare time he enjoys taking his dogs Sam and Bosco to the local dog park. His dogs often tire of fetch before he does.

The $53 billion Americans are spending on pets and pet businesses will skyrocket in 2013. But experts warn the boom is empowering ruthless puppy mills. Take steps to protect yourself and the animals.

$350 million spent on pet costumes in October? We did, according to the National Retail Federation.

Despite the lingering economic crisis casting a shadow over the holidays, pet spending is exploding. From $37.3 billion in 2001 to nearly $53 billion in 2012, a 42 percent increase in 11 years according to a 2012 APPA study. But experts warn the trend is causing unprepared pet buyers to get in over their heads, which is creating opportunities for shady operations.

You’re not seeing double. Wugadogs are the toy versions of a real-life Boston Terrier named Angus. They’re part of a nationwide ‘Petrepreneuer’ trend in pet commerce.

And despite the gloomy outlook for jobs and overall finances, pet spending is rocketing into 2013 and showing no signs of slowing down.

So why the shopping spree? “People are more interested in pets than ever before,” says San Diego veterinarian Dr. Jessica Vogelsang. Her statement reflects the long-held belief that pets improve human health. How? A neat little chemical called oxytocin, says Kit Yarrow, who chairs the psychology department of Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Oxytocin is a naturally-occurring hormone in our bodies that makes us feel good and evaporates stress. We get a charge whenever we think about, play with, or snuggle up to our pets, says Yarrow. And in these unstable times, a feeling like that is more than welcome to stay awhile.

Pet businesses skyrocket in 2012

The trend is titilating consumers partly because of new pet-focused businesses and services. Buffalo, NY-based ex-graphic artist turned toy designer, Darrin Wilson, 44, agrees. “I think we will see more of a focus on pets in 2013,” he says. “Especially if the economy remains tepid. Pets give us a safe place to hide.”

Wilson created a successful plush toy modeled after his own rambunctious Boston terrier. Interest in his toys, Wugadogs, began in July when he and his wife gave over 300 of the fuzzy critters to the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. He has now grown the line to include five more Wugadog designs in 2013.

In Danvers, MA, Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas takes pet devotion into the pews. The Perfect Paws Pet Ministry, which marked its second anniversary in April 2012, usually sets aside dog cupcakes and chewies for pooches who accompany their owners for Sunday service. In the Parish hall, you’ll see folding chairs. “It’s easier to clean,” explains the minister.

‘Petrepreneurialism’ is not just limited to creative pet owners and clergy; the trend has taken over big name companies. Paul Mitchell, Harley Davidson and Old Navy are now offering lines of pet products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire, and name-brand toys to gourmet treats and food.

With all this attention on pets, and the surge of pet-focused spending, the lure of a cute kitten or puppy to a first-time buyer can be too tempting to resist, especially if there are children involved. And that’s where all the cuteness can get ugly.

Puppy mills thrive on uninformed buyers

Many first-timers don’t know that the kennel or pet store they’re buying from is being honest. “Federal care standards are so minimal and enforcement so irregular that licensed kennels still include many so-called puppy mills, which breed and house animals in inhumane conditions,” says Cori Menkin, senior director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals puppy mills campaign. “Most pet store puppies come from puppy mills,” she says.

According to one well-known animal rights organization, the premium cost consumers pay for pets out of a pet store pales in comparison to the cruelty and abuse the animals suffer in the bowels of a puppy mill.

Puppy mills, according to PETA, can consist of anything from small cages made of wood and wire mesh to tractor-trailer cabs to simple tethers attached to trees. In the April 13, 2009 issue of Newsweek magazine, a Pennsylvania breeder confessed that he kept his dogs in cages because it was “the only way to keep a lot of dogs—to keep them penned up.”

In 2010, Chris Sweeney of DVM Newsmagazine reported in a feature entitled, “Inside the Black Market: Puppy Smuggling,” confirmed that dealers looking to avoid releveant U.S. laws concerning puppy mills can do so relatively easily by simply picking up and moving elsewhere to continue to do business.

While investigating what he called this “multi-million dollar industry,” Capt. Aaron Reyes of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority was horrified when he found “puppies stuffed in speaker boxes, screwed into the car door panels and wrapped in blankets with their little legs taped to their bodies and stuffed under seats.”

According to The Humane Society of the United States, there may be as many as 10,000 puppy mills operating across the United States.

To avoid empowering these malicious operations, one of the most important steps to take is diligence. Instead of a pet store, consumers may want to look at either a reputable local breeder or an adoption group, says Melanie Kahn, senior director of the Humane Society’s puppy mills campaign. If we can stop the flow of money to these individuals we can help end these practices.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have pet buyers who discover their newly-purchased pet isn’t for them. “Live animals aren’t often returnable, and so they may end up at shelters when the family discovers, say, that their new puppy is too energetic or that baby Easter bunny grows into a rabbit,” says Kahn.

Adopt a dog from a reputable adoption group to avoid puppy mill dogs. Also by carefully researching the breeders that supply pet stores.

Patti Strand, national director of the National Animal Interest Alliance, offers these tips:

1. Ask the pet store for detailed information on the breeder and their location.
2. Check those records against its inspections at the USDA’s website.

With homework you can protect yourself and deny puppy mill operators the cash they need.

But despite the dark side of this skyrocketing interest in pets, there is a light side: many abandoned animals will go to good homes thanks to committed pet owners. “Animals have always been a big part of our lives as humans,” says Wilson. “They have often been the only medicine that can truly cleanse our souls. It’s only right we adore them as much as they adore us.”

(Thanks to wugadogs.com for this story.)

When I visited Hills awhile back I learned about their awesome animal welfare efforts — the company is totally dedicated to helping shelter animals throughout the country. They are of the mindset that, as you will agree, every pet in a shelter deserves food, shelter, and love… For the past 10 years Hill’s has provided over $240 million worth of Science Diet pet food to nearly 1,000 shelters, 365 days a year.

Together with their shelter partners they helped more than 7 million cats and dogs find their forever homes! WOW!

Now, with the new Hill’s Food Shelter & Love™ Program every eligible shelter in the U.S. has the opportunity to become our Partner – meaning they can/will reach even more pets!

Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love^TM is excited to open a new program in April 2013.

Since 2002, Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love^TM has helped more than 7 million pets find a new home and continues to work every day with nearly 1,000 shelters to feed their pets all year through.

The new Partner Program is accessible to eligible animal shelters that are not benefiting already from the current Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love^TM program.

Join the new program at a Partner level and:

-          Enable your shelter pets to enjoy the benefits of Hill’s Science Diet nutrition consistently 365 days a year

-          Obtain exclusive discounts on Hill’s Science Diet nutrition to feed your shelter pets

-          Access exclusive resources for your shelter and staff on the Hill’s dedicated website

-          Offer your new adopters exclusive Hill’s Science Diet offers

Submit your shelter application today via this link and see if you qualify to start immediately in April 2013.

The nice folks at Hill’s are truly are looking forward to you joining the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love^TM program and helping them give millions more pets a home!

A $25 donation is the gift that will save a pet’s life

Looking to rock your gift list this Christmas? Take a cue from rock star Bret Michaels and make a donation to save homeless pets on behalf of the pet lover on your list.

A lifelong pet lover, Michaels has teamed up with PetSmart Charities to bring awareness to the millions of adoptable pets who need homes, and to encourage others to make a difference this holiday season.

Half of the 8 million pets who end up in shelters are euthanized — about 11,000 pets a day —because they don’t have a home.

A $25 donation to PetSmart Charities saves a pet’s life by covering the cost for shelter space, food and veterinarian services needed to care for pets while they wait to be adopted. With PetSmart Charities, your donation goes further to save pets — 84 cents of every dollar goes directly to help pets in need, one of the highest direct-donation percentages among all national animal welfare charities.

“I was lucky enough to adopt my German shepherd, Tarkus Arlicicus, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without having pets around,” said Michaels.

“By making a donation to PetSmart Charities this holiday, you will give a pet the second chance it deserves to find its lifelong home — and be a rock star to the pet lovers in your life.”

Pet Lovers are Rockin’ Holiday Donations in 2012

In a recent PetSmart Charities Facebook survey*, 88 percent of respondents said they are planning to donate to an animal welfare organization this holiday. They also indicated that the most important factor in deciding which charity will receive their donation was knowing their money would make a difference in saving pets.

In addition to its high direct-donation percentage, PetSmart Charities is in the top one percent of charities rated by Charity Navigator and has received its highest 4-star rating for nine consecutive years.

How to Donate

It’s one gift that doesn’t require you to fight the mall crowds or dig out the wrapping paper. Just visit www.petsmartcharities.org/how-to-help/donate to join Bret Michaels and PetSmart Charities in rockin’ the holiday season by saving a pet’s life.

Awareness and concern about pet homelessness is undermined by growing misconceptions about adoptable pets

Fundraising campaigns that show homeless pets in depressing conditions appear to strengthen the reluctance of some Americans to adopt a pet, according to new research from PetSmart Charities.

The study also identifies the most persistent misconceptions that people have about adoptable pets —that shelters don’t have the type of dog/cat wanted; purebred pets aren’t available; and you never know what you’re going to get with a shelter pet.

PetSmart Charities funded two national surveys, administered by Ipsos Marketing in 2009 and 2011, to better understand the public’s attitudes and understanding about pet adoption and spay/neuter.

The results of the surveys have highlighted the need for the animal welfare community to portray adoptable pets in a more positive light. Doing so would help to close the awareness gap between the benefits of pet adoption and spay/neuter, and the current pet homelessness and euthanasia epidemic.

“The pets shown in fundraising campaigns should be the same pets that animal welfare organizations are asking people to adopt – those that are healthy, happy, and ready for a forever home,” said Kelly Campbell, senior manager of knowledge & research, PetSmart Charities.

Key findings from the study include:

• · Most Americans (88 percent) drastically underestimate the scope of the euthanasia epidemic. In 2011, people estimated the number of pets euthanized annually was 1.2 million, and in 2009, that number was 1.5 million. Both figures are far below the actual number of approximately 4 million cats and dogs euthanized every year.
• · Conversely, people’s awareness and concern about the pet homelessness issue have grown, and more say they would consider adopting a pet. In 2009, 51 percent said they would consider adopting a dog or cat, compared to 58 percent in 2011.
• · However, misconceptions about adoption are increasing – reflecting significant damage that has been done in just two years. The barriers to adoption that have grown significantly from 2009 to 2011 include:

o Shelters don’t have the type of dog or cat wanted: up 9 percent

o You never know what you’re going to get with a shelter pet: up 21 percent

o The dog/cat may have behavioral problems: up 13 percent

o Shelters are depressing or sad: up 20 percent

•  The desire to save a pet is the strongest driver of adoption at 84 percent. Also, 21 percent of people said that seeing a pet’s picture online motivated them to adopt, reinforcing the need to depict adoptable pets in a positive light.
•  The study identifies additional drivers of adoption – that people wanted pets already spayed/neutered and vaccinated, that it is less expensive, and they wanted to foster a pet before acquiring one.
•  In terms of spay/neuter services, some 41 percent of those surveyed in 2011 said the main reason they have not yet spayed or neutered their pet is because they believe their pet was too young for the procedure—a 7 percent increase compared to the 2009 results. A similar percentage of people also said they thought spay/neutering was either too expensive, unnecessary or they simply hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

The misconceptions of pets in shelters are even more apparent in 2011 than they were in 2009, and until the animal welfare industry is able to change attitudes surrounding these barriers, pet homelessness will continue to exist in our communities.

To read the full survey results, visit PetSmart Charities’ online webinar here.