Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is a wonderful and loving thing. As an adult, the first cat I thought of came from the shelter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
He knew what he wanted, or rather, what he didn’t want. She wanted a girl kitten. She didn’t want a shorthair or a tabby cat. So what did I end up taking home? My new daughter, Pudi, was an estimated minimum of six months old and short-haired brindle. One in four isn’t bad…or is it?
An animal shelter is a difficult place for an animal lover. Animals always look adorable and so in need of special love and attention. Even though shelters do the best they can with the resources and funds they have, he was upset about Pudi: he was in close proximity to barking dogs and all the other cats in the shelter were much older. Despite not meeting most of my prerequisites, I couldn’t get away from her any more than I could go live in the shelter. Pudi became a steadfast and beloved addition to the family.
However, adoptions also have their negative side. One is that you have no background on the animal and its parentage. Pudi lived for six months who knows where before showing up one day at the door of an old lady. The lady fed her scallops and then took her to her shelter, where she sat down to wait for me.
Unfortunately, she came with problems. A hormonal problem meant that she was prone to spraying urine everywhere, including inside. This is a particularly unpleasant problem. It got worse in times of stress, like any change in furniture arrangement. A particularly noisy visitor could also trigger a fumigation attack. I remember once my husband borrowed a book from a co-worker. We ended up buying a new copy for the pawnbroker as Pudi objected to the strange smell coming.
He was very afraid of anyone except those he lived with, his family. Not at all sociable with strangers, she took a long time to get to know someone. On the other hand, she was incredibly trusting and loyal to her family. She could put a collar around her neck, dig up something lodged in her mouth, and give her medicine, all without being scratched, clawed, or bitten. She never used her claws on me, not even playing, but she did on others.
None of this should deter anyone from giving a shelter animal a home. All of these animals have been neglected, abandoned, mistreated, or are without a permanent home. However, it is wise to consider the needs of the animal and what it will mean for your home. A malnourished animal can have or develop health problems. Are you willing to spend time and money to see that the pet has the proper veterinary care? An abused animal may have control problems or a tendency to aggression. Can you afford the time and funding to attend a dog training school or other similar help where it exists? This is not always the case, even an abused dog can become the most loyal and warm companion.
Despite all the unfortunate cleaning jobs I had to do, sometimes on a daily basis, I never regret having Pudi. Love makes a family. What animal needs your love today?