Thursday, September 26, 2013

Furbaby Love: Why We Rescue


Usually my posts feature light and fun content, but today I wanted to talk about a subject that is very near and dear to my heart: helping homeless pets.

My whole life, my family has been a fan of rescuing homeless pets from shelters and the streets instead of buying a certain breed. My parents raised me to realize that regardless of breed or pedigree, a pet can be your most loyal of companions, and much like people, it is not what is on the outside that makes them unique. I take that feeling with me today into my adult life. The most rewarding relationships and the deepest connections I have had with animals have been with rescued pets that were once strays.

If you have ever stepped foot in an animal shelter, especially a kill shelter, you know how hard it is to walk away from the animals there who are begging and pleading for your attention, for some love and comfort, for a home. At least for me, it is hard not to walk away with every one of them. Especially the older ones. For a few years when I was in high school, I worked in a humane society. I loved it there, and it was full of amazing, caring employees and volunteers. Unfortunately, it was a kill shelter, as so many are. I learned that some of the older and less adoptable pets were the first to go, and that was when my belief in rescuing was cemented. I wanted to adopt those pets that I knew no one else would want: cats that aren't kittens, dogs that aren't puppies, black animals, geriatric or somehow "defective" animals, and the less outgoing ones.

If I were asked, "what do you want in a companion animal?", none of what I would list (loyalty, affection, pure intentions and a true connection) is about appearance. Think about the physical traits you were born with or have acquired over the years: would you want your dog or cat to reject you because you have a little extra weight around the middle, or because of a birthmark, or because you can grow a mustache? I know that is an extreme example. And I am super glad that animals do not judge base on those things because with as close to me as they get, mine would take one look at my mustache and... splitsville! :)

All three of our pets are rescues. Technically, they kind of found us, but I cannot tell you how happy I am to know that because of us, their lives are better. All three were unwanted at some point, and I cannot imagine how that must have felt for them.

One of the blogs that I follow, How to Ruin a Toddler's Day, recently posted about having to put her cat to sleep after having him for 15 years. It was heartbreaking, and just reading it again today, I cried. I know the heartbreak of having to let a pet go all too well. She writes a letter to her cat, the cat who was not the cat she originally wanted, but who taught her more than she could have ever imagined. Grab a box of tissues and see her post here

The next time you are thinking about adding fur to your family, consider adopting. I guarantee you won't regret it.

We ended up with these goofballs:



No Darwins were harmed in the making of the last picture. He, for some reason, really loves chewing on my knitting needles!!! Love the little goon.

Do you rescue? I would love to hear about it and see any posts you have about your rescued/adopted pets. Comment or post a link!




8 comments:

  1. Rescued furbabies give the best loves!! I know ours does :)

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    1. You're right! They do. :) That fat cat parks herself on our chests any time we lay down! So much love. :)

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  2. So sweet!

    Come link up with me today!
    http://thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com

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  3. Thanks for writing a post on behalf of homeless animals! All of my pets have been rescues too, and I also volunteer at a pet rescue organization. I've gotten to know such sweet, loving pets there, and although we are a no-kill shelter and will provide foster homes for every animal in our care for as long as they need one, it is still sad to see the animals that go for as long as years on end without being adopted... because they are older, or overweight, or are very shy due to having been kept caged in the home of a hoarder for their whole lives, or are an unpopular breed (like pitbulls) or whatever. A pet's life is empty without a human to love him... and I truly think the same is true for a human's life without a pet.

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    1. Yes! I love how you put that last sentence. Awesome. I totally agree. Speaking of animals in cages, my parents' current cat had been raised in a cage when they adopted him. From kittenhood, he had spent two years in a cage. They adopted him and he had no idea what to do with a whole house to run around in. He is still (years later) kinda skittish and doesn't have much muscle tone. He has slowly been warming up to my mom, doing things like sleeping next to her and beside her, but not on her... yet. He is getting here. So sweet. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your awesomely encouraging comment!

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  4. I can't even tell you how much I love this post. I agree on everything you said. All my pets (two cats and two bunnies) are rescued too and they make me happy every single day. I have worked in a shelter too and it is so hard not to be able to take all of them home.
    Found you on BBN and I will definitely follow along Great blog!

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and following! I love that you have rescued cats and bunnies! Do they get along?

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