Homeward Bound – I Wish I Was

Imagine losing your home, your family, all that you’ve ever known. Imagine the kindness of strangers taking you in, giving you a place to stay and food to eat. Now imagine how much you’d love to find someone to call you their own – part of their family, part of their home – forever.

There are literally many millions of pets in need of a home, in addition to millions of cats and dogs that are put down every year. The situation is, and has been for some time, a mad crisis. Yet, as beautiful, lovable pups sit in pounds, cages, or – at best – foster homes, stores are still selling dogs, many mere puppies whose breeders and originations are intentionally unknown. We know now so much more than we did years ago; spay and neuter helps greatly in reducing new crops of unwanted pets, shelters and rescues are able to manage themselves in much more efficient and humane ways, pet stores are selling puppy mill dogs in spite of the stores’ claims, and much can be accomplished through the newer world of social media. These are ideas that represent the new world for pets. Although based on common sense and certainly inarguable, so many people still choose to ignore these facts or the details of stories heard, refusing to be just plain sensible.

So, if you know of someone who is considering getting a pet, and particularly if they’ve mentioned a pet store – share your knowledge of the truth, and encourage them to consider adopting through a shelter or rescue. There are so many around, all trying, hoping, praying to find homes for the pets in their charge. Let that person know about how you can find the most amazing pet in the world at a shelter – heck, show them CindyLu’s cousin, he came from one – and that they can even find purebreds if they prefer, there are plenty of those at the shelter as well. Direct them to Petfinder.com, where they can browse through pets available in their local area; view photos and even occasionally videos.

Petfinder.com offers not only an amazing directory of pets looking to be adopted, but also serves as a resource for pet owners. Tips, advice, lost and found, classifieds, games, videos, pet news – the site is like a virtual library. You can join in the flow of information, news and fun on Facebook and Twitter. Petfinder.com is THE place to go, before heading over to your local shelter or rescue, when you’re contemplating or planning on adopting a new best friend.