| It's raining cats and dogs. I am not talking about the | | | | that you are available for local adoption of an animal |
| weather. For sure, I am speaking quite literally about | | | | There are hundreds of ways to prepare you and |
| the topic of cats and dogs. Quite a while back I had | | | | your pet for an adoption event. |
| the opportunity to visit a NYCACC - a place where | | | | Important Safety Note: If you are animal lovers, pet |
| stray cats and dogs are picked up, sheltered, | | | | owners for anyone who knows someone who owns |
| vaccinated and passed on to people who want to | | | | pets, kindly pass on this word that no one should pet |
| adopt them. Back then I had no idea of what the | | | | cats or dogs on leashes, indoors or outdoors. So |
| animal population in my city or country was. Soon | | | | many pets die or are put in danger when they are on |
| enough I began learning about it and I was quite | | | | a leash outdoors and left unattended. If your pet is |
| pleased to know that I did more than save a cat's | | | | on a leash, you should be there with them. If not, |
| life when I chose to adopt. Silly as this seems, I | | | | your pet can become strangled by his own leash. |
| probably saved generations of cats and kittens by | | | | When dogs are on leashes outdoors and left |
| my one action of adopting rather than buying an | | | | unattended, some of them are attacked by wild |
| animal. | | | | animals (squirrels, oppossums, raccoons) and could be |
| Here are some facts that you might not yet be | | | | killed by them. Also, some of these wild animals can |
| aware of: | | | | have rabies. So by leashing animals and leaving them |
| Did you know? | | | | unattended, you are putting your pets in great |
| Each day 10,000 humans are born in the US. And | | | | danger. |
| each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As | | | | Other Safety Notes: Keep chocolate away from |
| long as these birth rates exist, there will never be | | | | animals. I have heard that some have bad reactions |
| enough homes for all the animals. As a result, millions | | | | to it and also that chocolate is fatal to dogs. (I am |
| of healthy, loving cats dogs, kittens, and puppies face | | | | not sure about cats). Grapes are fatal to cats. A long |
| early deaths as a form of animal control. Others are | | | | time ago I had a cat who loved salad. He just loved |
| left to fend for themselves against automobiles, the | | | | the salad. And one day I was giving the salad to him |
| elements, animals and cruel humans. What can you do | | | | and was offering him a grape that came inside the |
| to stop the suffering? Spay and neuter your pets! | | | | fruit salad. He backed away from the grape as if it |
| Work with SPAYUSA and together we can make a | | | | was a predator. It surprised me because he loved |
| difference. An unspayed female dog, her mate, and | | | | natural foods. It wasn't until years later that I read in |
| all of their puppies, if none are ever neutered or | | | | some vet's office that cats should not have grapes |
| spayed, add up to: in 1 year 16 animals, 2 years 128 | | | | because they can be fatal to cats. Wow. This cat |
| animals, 3 years five hundred and twelve animals, 4 | | | | knew what was not good for him. He won't go |
| years equals 2048, 5 years twelve thousand two | | | | within feet of a grape. It is amazing how God |
| hundred and eighty eight. In six years, those animals | | | | created creatures, in such a way that even though |
| will have produced over sixty-seven thousand animals | | | | they have no scientific knowledge, their bodies know |
| from that one family. | | | | what is good for them and what is not good. Even |
| That quote is directly from Spay USA. | | | | man has that built in power - to know what is good |
| As long as you keep buying animals instead of | | | | and what is not good. Remember your first |
| adopting animals, you become part of the problem. If | | | | cigarette? You probably choked and choked but |
| you are considering having an animal enter into your | | | | went on to keep smoking anyway. Hey, Bud, that |
| family's space, kindly consider adopting that animal | | | | choking was a warning that cigarettes are fatal to |
| instead of going to a store to pick out the animal. | | | | human beings. But, we, unlike cats, decide to go |
| Always opt for adoption. By opting for adoption, you | | | | against our nature and our health, if we continue to |
| are saving an animal's life. | | | | smoke. So, today, having nothing at all to do with |
| Here's how to Adopt: | | | | cats and animals, do yourself a favor and stop doing |
| - Find an adoption center near you and go there. | | | | the things that your body says are wrong to do. You |
| - Ask recommendations from friends. Perhaps they | | | | will be happy that you did yourself that favor. |
| know someone who is giving up a dog or cat for | | | | Remember, adopting a pet is helping to save the |
| adoption. | | | | world, save animals and save lives. Make your next |
| - Prepare your home before the animal arrives. (Buy | | | | stop to an adoption place or to a shelter. Today , all |
| a pet dish, cleaning supplies and everything that your | | | | over the world, puppy mills are churning out puppies |
| animal should receive in when that pet is adopted. | | | | and dogs that are not healthy. Why help support |
| - Put a free advertisement in the newspaper stating | | | | them? Help support the little animals that are already |
| that you would like to adopt. | | | | here and you can make a difference in someone's |
| - Check your community yellow pages and make | | | | life. |
| sure your writing is connected | | | | Article updated May 27, 2008. |
| - Put a free advertisement in a local paper, stating | | | | |