The Joy of Adoption: Bringing Happiness into Your Family
Changing the world might seem like a lofty goal, but there are many ways to positively impact our local community. Adopting a shelter pet is just one way to make a big difference. With animal welfare efforts initialized 150 years ago, there are now over 5,000 animal shelters and rescue organizations nationwide. People are increasingly finding that adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue is the best option for them. The simple act of pet adoption sends incredible ripples throughout the world.
The Reality
Pets arrive at animal shelters every day. Whether they got lost or became separated from their owners, or had to be surrendered for unknown reasons, millions of pets are waiting to be adopted.
Adopting a pet from a shelter not only saves the life of the adopted pet, but it frees up space in the shelter for another adoptable pet to be viewed and considered by other prospective owners.
Animal shelters rely on adoption fees and donations to operate; when you support their mission through adoption you help them continue to provide care to homeless pets.
Benefits of Adopting
Opening your life, home, and heart to a pet in need is a major life decision. Responsible pet ownership can last a long time (with many pets living well beyond their 10th birthday) and requires a commitment to their health, happiness, and safety.
There’s a significant amount of time, energy, patience, and effort towards maintaining a pet’s wellness, but the following rewards to pet owners are exponential:
- Unconditional love
- Constant companionship
- Entertainment
- A renewed sense of purpose
- Increased exercise and well-being
- Improved cardiovascular and mental health
- Reduced feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation
Find the Right Match
Unfortunately, pets are often surrendered or re-homed because their owners weren’t fully prepared to handle the variety of possible challenges. It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment of your lifestyle, home environment, and work-life balance to achieve successful pet adoption and ownership. Pairing these with characteristics of the right pet is equally important, including their breed, age, size, behaviors, and possible genetic or health issues.
Help a Local Animal Shelter
If you aren’t able to adopt a pet, consider the following ways you can make a difference in the lives of shelter pets:
- Foster a cat or dog
- Donate funds or items to a shelter (see the wish lists of West Slope and South Lake Tahoe shelters)
- Volunteer your time at the closest El Dorado County animal shelter
- Host a fundraising event at your place of work, school, or neighborhood to contribute to the cost of medical needs at local shelters
Together Forever
Adopting a shelter pet will surely change the animal’s life, but pet owners are also influenced by the invaluable experience. MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital knows firsthand the power of the human-animal connection, and we are happy to assist you with pet care and responsible pet ownership at (916) 939‑1705.