PET ASSISTANCE, INC. …..helping people and their pets
BOX 2015 New Preston CT 06777 860 354-PETS
Adoptions were way down this past year. We placed several older pets in new home and a few
litters of kittens.
Actually, that is good news! In metro New York and New England, few people are
surrendering healthy, problem-free pets. Because most people are giving serious
thought before adopting or purchasing a pet, more dogs and cats are staying in one
home their entire lives. Most pets now get spayed, vaccinated and even attend ‘doggie
school.’ Not too many years ago, these were common phone calls: “Our kids are off to
college so 12 year old Fluffy needs a new home.” Or “My son/daughter (perhaps only six
or eight years old) promised to walk and feed the dog and they don’t, so it has to go.”
Shelters and Animal Welfare groups have done a good job educating and screening prospective
adopters and that could be part of the good news. On the flip side , many groups now charge
extremely high adoption fees, and have what I consider unreasonable adoption policies: Some
will not place a pet with a family with children under six years old or they don’t let you adopt a
kitten…you have to take two! Those are examples of what drives people to purchase at pet
shops, thereby supporting puppy mills.
Statistics show the number of homeless animals has dropped drastically since the 1970’s
and 1980’s. Yet shelters will always be full as long as their policy is ‘no kill.’ In effect local
shelters have become ‘sanctuaries,’ places where animals live out their natural lives,
rather than places to offer temporary and emergency shelter to needy animals. This has
created a new problem. There is never room at the inn!
Very few adoptable animals remain homeless for long. For every ‘nice’ dog or cat we at Pet
Assistance advertise, regardless of age, we get twenty five to fifty calls from ‘good’ people. The
key is advertising. Lack of advertising is one reason many dogs and cats spend years at a shelter.
When I started with humane work in the early 1970’s, shelters were filled with shepherd
mixes. Now the problem is that most pounds are filled with stray pit bulls and little else.
I love the breed, but they are difficult to place in responsible homes, and that can be a
major liability.
Groups have formed to bring small, cute dogs up north from our southern states. For years, I was
against this until I visited Atlanta, Georgia shelters last fall.
Thousands of young, friendly, beautiful family type dogs are euthanized
regularly. Every single one I saw was highly adoptable up north. I now
think it is okay to import dogs as long as these same rescue groups
spay/neuter a huge ‘bunch’ of dogs at the same time.
(Photo: Atlanta pound pups)
This is a typical ‘street dog’ in Nicaragua.
She was caught with her pups, will be cared for until she is strong
enough to be spayed and then returned to her neighborhood. Few people
have “pets” in impoverished nations.
I recently returned from a trip to Nicaragua with a veterinary group. Treating and spaying dogs
and cats affirmed what I already knew from prior travels….animals have pretty miserable lives
in most countries. Be aware that there are regional differences to dog and cat overpopulation
which are due to cultural diversity, even here in the United States! But, in New York and New
England, most pets have it pretty good.
UNTIL….there is a medical emergency! Most of our work these days is subsidizing vet
care for pets belonging to the elderly and indigent. Pet Assistance, Inc. receives daily
calls from people all over the country whose pets need surgery for broken bones, tumor
removal, pyometra, urinary blockages and more. Too many people are faced with a
veterinary crisis, partially because of the economy and partially because they do not
plan ahead. As responsible pet owners, we must prepare for the unforeseen. The best
way to protect your pet is to ‘self insure.’ From the day you get a new pet, or start
today….put $5 (less than seventy five cents a day) to $10 a week in a pet medical
account for veterinary emergencies and exceptional treatments. You may never need to
touch this account but after ten years, you will have between $2600 and $5500 or more
in your pet emergency fund.
Pet Assistance Inc. has a special need right now for your support. The
recession has seriously impacted so many people and our donations have
declined..…..not in numbers, but in amounts.
Pet Assistance, Inc. provides unique services.
Many vets refer their client to us; many shelters and humane societies refer people to us also.
YOU are our largest single source of revenue.
Without your donation, it will be more difficult to help those that need Pet Assistance.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Ruth Pearl, President
Email: getapet@gmail.com