Please Wait ... a few things to consider before you adopt.
Adopting a pet is a big decision. Dogs and cats require lots of time, money, and commitment - more than 15 years worth in many cases. Pet ownership can be rewarding, but only if you think through your decision before you adopt a companion.
Things to Consider
•Why do you want a pet? It's amazing how many people fail to ask themselves this simple question before they get a pet. Adopting a pet just because it's "the thing to do" or because the kids have been pining for a puppy usually ends up being a big mistake. Don't forget that pets may be with you 10, 15, even 20 years.
•Do you have time for a pet? Dogs, cats, and other animal companions cannot be ignored just because you're tired or busy. They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year. Many animals in the shelter are there because their owners didn't realize how much time it took to care for them.
•Can you afford a pet? The costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.
•Are you prepared to deal with special problems that a pet can cause? Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren't yet housetrained, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.
•Can you have a pet where you live? Many rental communities don't allow pets, and most of the rest have restrictions. Make sure you know what they are before you bring a companion animal home.
•Is it a good time for you to adopt a pet? If you have kids under six years old, for instance, you might consider waiting a few years before you adopt a companion. Pet ownership requires children who are mature enough to be responsible. If you're a student, in the military, or travel frequently as part of your work, waiting until you settle down is wise.
•Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind? Animal size is not the only variable to think about here. For example, some small dogs such as terriers are very active. They require a great deal of exercise to be calm, and they often bark at any noise. On the other hand, some big dogs are laid back and quite content to lie on a couch all day. Before adopting a pet, do some research. That way, you'll ensure you choose an animal who will fit into your lifestyle and your living arrangements.
•Do you know who will care for your pet while you're away on vacation? You'll need either reliable friends and neighbors or money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service.
•Will you be a responsible pet owner? Having your pet spayed or neutered, obeying community leash and licensing laws, and keeping identification tags on your pets are all part of being a responsible owner. Of course, giving your pet love, companionship, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary care are other essentials.
•Finally, are you prepared to keep and care for the pet for his or her entire lifetime? When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime.
Get an Animal for Life
Many of the shelter's homeless animals are puppies and kittens, victims of people who irresponsibly allowed their pets to breed. But there are at least as many dogs and cats at the shelter who are more than a year old; animals who were obtained by people who didn't think through the responsibilities of pet ownership before they got the animal.
Please, don't make the same mistake. Think before you adopt. Sharing your life with a companion animal can bring incredible rewards, but only if you're willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, responsibility, and love for the life of the pet.
Here is a little information about the team at Save Our Florida Pets.
DEVON
Devon is the owner/trainer of Horses In Harmony - A Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation and Training Facility located in Central Florida. Devon has five rescued dogs and two rescued cats of her own, in addition to her ten horses.
Unable to ignore the plight of the thousands of innocent and precious pets that are being needlessly destroyed each year, in the state of Florida alone, Devon wants to take a more pro-active approach to further educating the general public. To save lives, we must begin with education. The importance of spaying and neutering your pets cannot be emphasized enough. Throughout this website, Devon and Angie will regularly post updated videos to help people understand the reality of the unwanted pet and the horrors of the kill shelters. They will also showcase the pets available for adoption via video.
Devon and Angie encourage all pet-related service providers to exchange links with us! Trainers, vets, suppliers, pet-sitters, pet-food manufacturers etc.
Devon can be reached by email at onefitbrit@aol.com
ANGIE
Angie is the marketing director at Gibson Truck World located in Sanford, Florida. Angie has two dogs, Rhapsody a rescued Catahoula and Cosmo a senior dachshund! She recently lost her rescued cat to cancer.
Angie has also been helping Devon with the horse rescue and rehabilitation since Horses In Harmony's inception back in March 2008.
Angie understands that euthanasia is acceptable for any sick, injured, or suffering animal whose quality of life has been compromised due to extreme pain or discomfort. However, she believes that the general public is unaware that those are not the only animals being destroyed at our local shelters daily. Angie wants to work hard, with Devon, to educate people on the realities of the countless number of adoptable puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, horses, and many other animals, that are put to death before they are even given a chance to find a loving home.
By working directly with these kill shelters, Angie and Devon hope to let people know that there are other options available.
Please follow our progress and send in your thoughts and ideas so we can develop this website into a world of valuable information and ideas.
Angie can be reached by email at angelamstockman@gmail.com
SHAWN
Shawn is the farm manager for Save Our Florida Pets and Horses In Harmony. You can reach Shawn at 407-832-1061 or email at deque@bellsouth.net
