<p>Three years ago this week, I heard a story on local radio about another casualty of the then-new economic crisis – animals. Shelters were being overwhelmed by pets whose owners had lost their homes or their jobs and could no longer keep them. When I got home that night, I mentioned the story to DH who said he’d heard it too, and agreed it was time for a new kitty. The next weekend, we went down to the SPCA and came home with Sabine.</p>
<p>A lot of people must have felt the same tug we did, because the place was mobbed that day. The volunteer who was working with us said that they had just that day adopted out the last of their long-term cats – great news. </p>
<p>If there’s room in your home for a furry addition, please please take a look at the wonderful animals at your local shelter, rescue organization, or pound. Someone is waiting for you. :)</p>
<p>Mine’s a rescue dog (about 3 y/o at the time we adopted him) and he’s a fantastic dog - I have no idea why anyone would have given him up. My D adopted an adult cat from a shelter and this has turned out to be a great cat as well. Both animals are amazingly well adjusted and just fantastic to be with.</p>
<p>Maybe your post will inspire a few CCers to head out and adopt some animals -especially now that the house may be more empty with their kid now off to college.</p>
<p>We got our dog (beagle) from a breed rescue 7 years ago when she was about 3. I will admit that she is a bit quirky and needy, but we love her and this is her forever home. I would very likely adopt again from the rescue group. </p>
<p>My neighbor adopted his beagle/lab mix from our county shelter. That dog is the absolute sweetest and best behaved pet. When they travel I just bring the dog to my house (my dog loves him) and he’s great.</p>
<p>All three of the dogs we have had have come from rescues/shelters. Two were purebred (Irish Setter and St. Bernard) and the middle one was a shepherd/St. Bernard mix. All of them were excellent dogs, with the mix being the absolute best. The mix had been adopted out and returned two or three times before we took him. He just needed a place with more space to run, which we had. We couldn’t have asked for a better dog.</p>
<p>All of the dogs were adults when we adopted them. We had no health problems and no behavior problems with any of them. </p>
<p>We have always had a steady supply of stray cats that became ours, so we haven’t had to adopt. But now through attrition, we are down to two cats, so it may be time to investigate adding another or two!</p>
<p>Our previous two were shelter cats, and our current two are also shelter cats. We got the current ones four years ago, within days of each other, albeit from different shelters. Both were adults when we got them, although the male acts more like a kitten than most kittens!</p>
<p>I’m a firm believer in shelter pets. Particularly now, with the incomprehensible (to me) trend to designer dog “breeds” like labradoodles and cockerpugs. As far as I’m concerned, they’re just mutts! And shelter pets seem to understand what you’ve done for them, and will love you forever for it!</p>
<p>All mine are rescues, all purebreed. I adopted one as a senior, the others a few years old. They are wonderful dogs! One came from a breed rescue, the other two from a county shelter. Shelter pets all the way!</p>
<p>The two dogs we have now, we adopted from the shelter. One had been returned twice (probably because he’s a terrior mix and knows more than you do), the other found on the side of the road. They are very loyal and loving dogs. </p>
<p>My daughter adopted an older dog from a rescue group and we can’t believe he was given up twice. Everyone that meets him loves him.</p>
<p>We have a long haired chihuahua/papillon mix that is the absolute perfect dog. We used to have Shelties–two from a rescue group. My son recently sent us a picture of his friend’s Shelillon…sheltie/papillon mix…and OMG I am obsessed, she is so perfectly adorable, I want one so badly as a companion for our little girl doggie.</p>
<p>If anyone hears of a Shelillon available at any rescue, please let me know!</p>
<p>We have 2 shelter cats, who are brother and sister. They are the sweetest cats. They definitely seem to know what we have done for them, and frequently give us ‘offerings’ on our pillows and their cat food dishes of their furry toys. </p>
<p>One day, while D1 was home on break, she was working on her laptop and one of the kittens was playing with the keyboard. D1 was filling out a survey for school and the kitten had managed to go back to the home page, so she had to start all over. D1 went out, and returned to find a small furry toy left on the keyboard. D1 said it was the kitten’s way of apologizing.</p>
<p>i will never understand how someone gave up the wonderful dog that i was lucky enough to adopt. he is the best dog ever and i can not imagine how they could have abandoned him. i understand the economy and housing situations that might force the issue–but i can not imagine treating and abandoning a dog the way this dog was left behind…he is just the best!</p>
<p>I agree, it is hard to understand why someone would have given up the dog that we have now. We got her through a rescue org and have had her for 4 years. Yes, she had severe separation anxiety when we got her, and we spent quite a bit of time retraining her, but it was all worth it. She is the most loving, happy dog now. </p>
<p>Our local shelter had a promotion recently, advertising fees of some ridiculously low amount. They practically cleared the place out.</p>
<p>We haven’t adopted any shelter kitties but have had stray kitties adopt us.</p>
<p>A pregnant stray came to our house in search of food eight years ago. We kept two of her kittens, a friend adopted the other two, and another friend adopted mama cat. Our two are inside-only cats.</p>
<p>We also have outside-only cat, who considers our cul-de-sac his fiefdom. He arrived in our backyard four years ago, having already used up the majority of his nine lives … while still a kitten. </p>
<p>Love all of them.</p>
<p>Would love to adopt a shelter cat one of these days - not a cute kitten but rather one a bit older that might not get adopted as quickly.</p>
<p>A year ago we adopted a dog from a rescue group - our first pet ever. He has truly done nothing but make our home a much more positive loving place. I too cannot imagine why someone did not want this dog - he is less trouble than more humans I know! </p>
<p>I have a shelter dog that I never anticipated keeping. He was going to be euthanized the next day after I saw an add for him, so I decided to foster him, and he ended up sticking around He is the most kind-hearted dog ever. He is very emotional and sometimes a handful, but he is SO LOVING. All he wants is to be touched and held. And he is so kind to all sorts of other small creatures I have brought into my home (including birds and rodents). Did I forget to mention he is also 65 pounds and a lap dog :)?</p>
<p>Also, please remember that even if you want a per other than a cat or a dog, there are lots of rescues. One of my guinea pigs is a rescue, and it was not until I really learned about them that I learned just how much of an overpopulation problem there is, and how much they need homes. If you want anything from a rabbit to a lizard, there are likely homeless animals out there (PetFinder is a great place to look).That way, you are giving a critter a second chance and not supporting the awful breeder/pet store conditions that small animals face.</p>
<p>My cat is not only the best I’ve ever had, she’s the best cat I’ve ever <em>met</em>. She’s got every nice quality a cat can have plus lots of good dog qualities – she runs to the door to greet me, plays fetch, walks on a leash, loves meeting strangers. Then she cuddles under the covers at night. Seriously, if all cats were like her, everyone would be a cat person. Found her at the Anti-Cruelty Society when she was 9 months old.</p>
<p>Our dogs are all rescues (save one…). We have found that the rescues are sweeter, happier, grateful and loyal to the nth degree. We have gone to a golden retriever rescue group and will do so again. </p>
<p>Our female (we have two) was thrown out of a car in the dessert and left to die. She had eaten rocks to survive. The inland empire shelter called the rescue society and they picked her up/cleaned her up and we were SO LUCKY to get this then five year old wonder. </p>
<p>My husband said that if he ever found out who had done this to “his” dog he’d make them pay. If she had been lost he’d never stop looking for her. The rest of us agree.</p>
He is the most kind-hearted dog ever. He is very emotional and sometimes a handful, but he is SO LOVING. All he wants is to be touched and held. And he is so kind to all sorts of other small creatures I have brought into my home (including birds and rodents). Did I forget to mention he is also 65 pounds and a lap dog :)?</p>