February 15, 2008
Heavy Petting
The problem of abandoned and unwanted pets is not unique to Toronto. A recent Toronto Star article, however, has highlighted the plight of abandoned animals who may no longer be collected by City of Toronto shelters due to budget concerns, ultimately leading to an overflow of dogs and cats in neighbouring municipalities. According to the article, one of the biggest fears is an explosion in the feral feline population, since—as everyone knows—cats are raging sexaholics if left un-neutered or unspayed.
Luckily for them, the Toronto Humane Society (11 River Street) is having a "Valentine's Day Through Family Day Adoption Blitz" all weekend, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you can't make it down to the THS this weekend, check out Petfinder.com, which is one of the best sources to help prospective adopters make a match. Searches can be made by age, size, gender, and type of animal. (Yes, they do have barn yard animals. Score.) As well, Toronto Animal Services has a number of locations throughout the city where you can meet potential companions. A more exhaustive list of pet rescue organizations is also available online.
Of course, adopting an animal is not a decision to be taken lightly, so think about it first. Many animals require a significant financial investment, and all of them require a significant investment of time. (Well...not goldfish.) Seriously, though, aren't you tired of coming home to an immaculately clean apartment with no pet hair on the couch and your shoes thoroughly un-chewed?
If you've considered all the potential drawbacks and are still looking for an addition to the family (and aren't particular about things like breed, age, size, gender, or—often—copious amounts of vomit), please consider adopting a pet.
Photo by Maneesh Mohindra.
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I got my dog (pictured -->>) from Petfinder!
Charming, sociable and fully trained, I can't say enough good things about her.
For anyone buying a new puppy because they think they can't get the breed or age they want from adoption, PLEASE check out Petfinder.
Too bad for every dog adopted, there's 10 dingbats out there ringing up a PJ's puppy on layaway (it should be illegal to pay for an animal in installments!) not realizing that their full-time job and new baby are already work enough.
Another problem that shelters have is that everyone wants a puppy or a kitten. It's harder for shelters to find homes for older animals.
A more exhaustive list of pet rescue organizations is also available online.
That link looks like it's only for dog rescue groups. For cat rescue groups, try here:
http://www.tmsphotovideo.com/cat/helpgta.html
My girlfriend and I fostered a couple of kitten siblings from the THS in August and have yet to give them back. They're pretty darn excellent.
I think people who buy animals from a store are stupid, and I also don't understand the desire for purebred animals that cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Unless you're a breeder or into competitive shows, you don't need one. That mutt at the shelter will do just fine for a family pet.
In my neighbourhood, people always ask my boyfriend and I what breed our dog is because he's a mix and it's difficult to tell. We return the question to be polite and they always say, "He/she's a purebred [insert specific breed I've never heard of here]." It seems like nobody has mutts anymore and it's some kind of faux-pas to own one.
It breaks my heart. We've adopted two cats from the THS, and although we would love to have another dog...one dog in the city is more than enough for the two of us. But there are always dozens of nice, beautiful dogs there. No, they won't be a puppy, and no, they may not be purebred, but they still need homes.