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Adopting a Family Pet in Englewood, Colorado: The Wheres, Hows, and Whys

3/11/2015

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Pokey
Your little girl comes to you with big puppy dog eyes and excitement in her face. It's unmistakable! You know what she wants - a pet. Whether your family is looking to adopt a cat, dog, rabbit, or other animal, there are many things you will need to consider. Is a pet right for your family? What type? Where can you adopt a pet in Englewood, CO?

What is Your Family Routine?

First and foremost, you need to see if proper pet care will fit into your family's daily routine. Is there time to walk a dog? Would said dog be included in trips to Englewood parks with the kids? Time to amuse a cat with a string of yarn? Time to brush and groom? Would a pet have plenty of time with family members for love and care or would they just be an afterthought or another cool object your child will later ditch for something else? If it's the latter two, you can scratch getting a pet off your list.

What are Your Reasons for Wanting to Adopt a Pet?

Does your family just want a particular pet just to say you have one - or do you have a genuine interest in bringing in a new family member. Cats and dogs (and any other animals) are not toys. They are living creatures with feelings. If your reasons for having them don't include providing a loving, caring home, your family shouldn't be adopting a pet. It's alright if one reason is that they are cute. But don't forget that a new pet is the same as a new family member.

How Responsible are Your Kids?

Can you trust your kids to take care of a pet properly all the time? If not, will you be doing it? Pets are a big responsibly. Yes, they are cute and cuddly and playful and fun. But, they are also a ton of work when cared for the right way. If you adopt a pet, can your family handle the responsibility? If you have any doubts, it's much better not to adopt than it is to take in a pet that may later end up in an Englewood shelter. That's not fair to the pet - and it's also not fair to your family.

Can You Handle the Expenses?

In addition to the adoption fees, there is also the constant fee of food, treats, toys, and more. Don't forget to add vet bills into your budget too. Just like your kids need to go to the doctor regularly, so do animals. If by chance, something unforeseen happens with their health, will you be able to afford medicines, surgeries, or whatever else it may take?

Just like you probably calculated expenses when you brought a new baby into the world, you need to do the same with a pet. If you are already scraping to get by now, it's best not to bring a pet into your home. Doing so would possibly be like taking food from the mouths of your kids and it's also not fair to bring a pet into a situation where each day is unsure. Love them from a distance until your financial situation (and other factors) allow better care.

Do Your Kids Know How to Treat Animals?

If your child is the one going around pulling the tails of other people's cats, he needs some instruction before you bring an animal into the home. Even if you have not seen evidence of the kids mistreating animals, it's always a good idea to have a talk about proper animal care. Many pet shelters and stores offer instruction to families looking to adopt a pet. This is to ensure that everyone knows what is good for a pet and what is not.

Where is the Best Place to Adopt a Pet in Englewood, CO?

Animal shelters are generally the best place to adopt pets. Why? You are rescuing an animal that may not otherwise survive. Most animals in shelters have been rescued from sort of unfit situation. Pet shelter animals generally come with their vaccinations and are often spayed or neutered. Some will even microchip your pet.

All of these things would cost extra time and money and they are part of what you would need to do anyway - outside of the microchip. That's obviously a personal choice. The benefit to having one is that if your pet is lost and turned into a shelter, they can scan the pet and know you are the owner. However, some people do not like to have a device implanted in their pet - and that's fine too. It's a personal choice.

Animals for Adoption in the Englewood, CO area

Animal Rescue and Adoption Society
http://www.arascolorado.org/
2390 S. Delaware Street
Denver, CO 80223
Phone: (303) 744-6076

Denver Dumb Friends League
http://www.ddfl.org/
2080 South Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80231
(303) 751-5772

Colorado Animal Welfare League
http://coloradoanimalwelfare.org/
PO Box 1071
Englewood, CO 80150
(720) 515-CAWL(2295)


*I originally published a version of thisvia Yahoo Contributor Network
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With So Many Animals in Need, Why Do We Need Pet Stores?

12/6/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved
A pet store may be the very first place you think of when you want to bring home a furry friend. But as a long-time friend to animals, turned occasional rescuer, I'm here to tell you there is a better way. Each year, millions of animals are euthanized in the United States. Roughly 71% of cats and 56% of dogs that enter shelters are euthanized. Some may be euthanized due to illness. But many are simply unwanted and the shelters have to make room for more that arrive. If pet stores ceased to exist, perhaps more of these animals would be adopted in time.

What's Wrong With Pet Stores?

I take no personal issue with pet stores who properly care for the animals. My concern is more along the lines of pet overpopulation. Erasing pet stores just happens to be one way to cut down on overpopulation. With the animal shelters and city streets overrun as it is, the selling and purchasing of more and more animals compounds the problem. The more people buy from pet stores, the more animals these stores need to have around. Most pet stores buy these animals in bulk from breeders. Why buy animals this way when there are perfectly good ones sitting behind cage bars in a shelter? One of these lovable potential pets dies from euthanization every 8 seconds. One organizations, called Found Animals is about to try something that's never been done before. Rescued animals will be available for adoption in a pet-store-like venue in the mall.

But I Want a Specific Breed of Pet

Contrary to what some may believe, purebred animals enter shelter doors quite often. Pet stores and breeders are not the only place to be breed-specific. In fact, it's estimated that about 25% of all sheltered animals are purebreds. If you are set on a specific breed, call around to the animal shelters and rescue organizations in your area. Pet stores are far from the only source. Many areas have breed-specific rescues. There's also the possibility that you will go to find one animal and fall in love with another. An animal should not be chosen just based on his breed, but also by the shared connection. My kids and I visit the local animal shelter often and it's amazing to see even the breeds with the worst reputations being extremely loving and friendly. While dogs of the same breed can tend to have the same behaviors, you just can't lump every animal of that breed into the same stereotype.

But My Desired Pet Type Isn't Available at Shelters

Or so you think. There are plenty of shelters and rescue organizations with animals of all kinds that need your help. Hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, mice, dogs, lizards, snakes, and just about any animal you can have as a pet can be found in an animal shelter. My kids and I have adopted several hamsters in need. We will always do this whenever we have room. Key words: "whenever we have room". Animal hoarding is another issue that can cause shelters to become overrun and we plan to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. Call around to local organizations and shelters to find out who has the type of pet you want. Sometimes there are special organizations dedicated to a specific type of animal or breed.

I Don't Care About Pet Overpopulation or Statistics. I Just Want a Pet.

Sadly, many people are not going to be wavered by statistics or population numbers. Even if you fall under that group, I still have plenty of reasons for you adopt a pet, rather than shop for one in a pet store.


  • Shelters have a health report for each animal.
  • Shelter animals come vaccinated.
  • Microchipping may be included in the adoption fee.
  • Adoption fees can be much lower than pet store fees.
  • Spay/neuter is routine and included in the adoption fee.
  •  Adopting helps prevent the loss of a life.
  • You get the joy of knowing you did a good deed.
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Are Shelter Pets Safe for Tweens?

12/6/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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When looking for your tween's first or additional pet, an animal shelter may not be the first place you think of. Should it be? Are shelter pets dangerous for kids? After reading my recent article, Teaching Kids How to Respect Animals, several readers questioned me about one aspect. I mentioned how my kids and I visit the shelters regularly and own adopted animals. Readers wondered if kids could be in danger around shelter animals. Are shelter pets safe for tweens?

Will shelter pets give my kids diseases? Most illnesses that a pet would have are not transferable to humans. However, some definitely can be. The good thing about adopting an animal from a shelter is that they have generally been checked out by a veterinarian, as well as received any necessary vaccines. Talk to shelter personnel to be sure your tween is choosing a pet that has been examined and vaccinated. While this of course won't prevent every issue, it will help. Did you know that many of the animals that come from pet stores have not had veterinary care as thorough as some in shelters?

Can't shelter animals be violent toward my tween? Before animals are ever able to be put into adoption status, they must pass both physical and behavioral tests. If an animal is aggressive upon entrance to the shelter, some shelters turn them away. Others give them training to help them overcome behavioral issues and become suitable adoption candidates. Just like any other animal, they are still animals and no method is fool-proof. However, it stands to reason that animals who are upheld to certain standards will likely be proven more safe than those who aren't.

Don't shelter animals come from the streets? Are they feral? While some shelter animals have in fact been strays, not all of them are. Also, not all stray animals are feral. Trained professionals evaluate the animals to see which ones make good candidates for adoption. Feral pets can be domesticated. But it takes extra attention. A feral animal is very highly unlikely to be adopted out to your tween as a pet. Instead, that animal may be placed into a trained foster home until ready to be placed. Some may never be placed. This is also only true if the shelter even accepts feral animals. Some do not accept animals in this condition.

What if the shelter pet came from an abusive home? Not all animals from abusive homes are going to be aggressive or otherwise difficult for a tween to care for. For instance, one of the hamsters our family has adopted came from an abusive and neglectful home. This hamster belongs to my tween. At first I was the one to handle him just be safe. But with love and care, he is as loving as (if not even more loving than) the other hamsters. Not only do my weens play with him, but the younger children do as well. An animal from an abusive home can sometimes mean double the responsibility. Safety should always come first. But an animal's previous situation doesn't necessarily have to mean they won't be a good pet for tweens.

How do I know if my tween should adopt a shelter pet? This decision is just like any other pet adoption decision. Be sure your tween is ready for the responsibility and knows how to respect animals. Talk to shelter staff to figure out which pets match your child's personality. Have your tween interact with potential pets to find one that fits in with the family. When your tween meets with the pet, it will become obvious which one is a good choice, based on that, as well as a professional evaluation. Pet adoption is similar to child adoption in that the decision is based upon both what is good for the animals as well as the potential family.

Before taking any animal into your home, always consult with a trained professional first and be sure your family has the proper resources and knowledge.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Animal Shelter Adoption Myths: Puppies & Kittens are Unavailable

6/27/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
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Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved
With all the untruths out there about choosing pet adoption/rescue over shopping for pets, one of those I am most confused by is the myth that babies can't be found. Having rescued many puppies and kittens over the years, as well as visited many shelters and having been involved both directly and indirectly with rescues, I know firsthand that puppies and kittens are very common in the shelter setting. This can be especially true in the springtime when nature bestows these wonderful gifts upon the most animals.

To figure out which shelters have younger animals available, try using a service such as PetFinder.com to seek out a specific age group. Kittens and puppies can generally be adopted out once they are 8 weeks old. Therefore, that could be a good starting point.

Not all shelters and rescues will list the younger animals, as those can tend to go faster than allows time for a website listing. Because of this, I recommend visiting in person if you are having trouble finding information on younger pets online. This could also be one of the reasons this myth gets spread.

If you are interested in tougher cases, there are often mama cats and dogs with their offspring in the backrooms of shelters and rescues because they cannot be adopted out and do not have a foster home. These animals are considered special needs and may require a temporary foster period and rehome of some or all of the babies before final adoption of the mother.

Remember that just because an animal is not listed online does not mean that animal does not exist within a shelter or rescue facility.


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