Dispelling the Myths That Shelter Animals Are Bad
There are so many dogs and cats across the country languishing in shelters. They are in desperate need of homes. Unfortunately, many of them have been deemed unadoptable for a variety of reasons.
Shelters take in about 5 and 7 million homeless animals, according to the article, “Shining a Light on Shelter Myths” at ASPCA.org. And “as ridiculous as anti-shelter arguments are, they reveal destructive myths about shelter animals that need to be called out every time they arise.”
According to the article, some of the myths include:
• Dogs end up in shelters due to being seized in criminal cases or they were deemed too aggressive to safely own. Just because at least half of dogs and cats come to shelters as strays, it doesn’t mean they are aggressive. An animal’s current behavior and health is what’s important.
• Shelter animals are not clean but puppy store animals are. Puppy stores receive their animals from puppy mills where dogs hardly ever leave filthy, wired cages where disease spreads.
• Older cats and dogs do not bond. This is very untrue. “Age is not a determining factor in an animal’s affection toward humans or its ability to bond with them,” the ASPCA article said.
According to the article, “Why Adopt a Shelter Dog? 10 Myths About Shelter Pets Debunked” at Be.chewy.com, “Yes, animal adoption is a big deal—you’re welcoming a new furry family member to their forever home—so you want to make sure you make the right decisions. But that doesn’t mean you should skip the shelter.”
The Be.chewy.com article discusses the following myths:
• Rescue dogs cannot be trained. Any dog who comes into your home will need some type of training. Plus, you can train an adult dog.
• Many shelter dogs are shy or scared. Every dog has an individual personality. Oftentimes a shelter dog you adopt will need time to decompress.
• Rescue dogs are not potty trained. This depends on the individual dog. Either ask a shelter staff member for a potty-trained dog or be willing to help train your newly adopted canine.
Often, people do not believe purebred dogs are available at the shelter. While shelters have a lot of mutts, “about a quarter of the rescue dogs are purebred,” according to the article, “5 Ridiculous Myths About Rescue Dogs” at Petguide.com. For those who want a specific breed, there are breed-specific rescue groups out there. Just do some research.
While some people think rescue dogs are simply unhealthy and sick; that is just another myth. “Dogs that are taken in by shelters are given a complete health exam by a veterinarian before being put up for adoption,” the Petguide.com article said.
Just remember, when you adopt a dog from a shelter or a local rescue, just provide the basics: love, leadership, patience and guidance, the Petguide.com article said. Your newly adopted dog will be happy you did, and so will you. Before you know it, your new family member will be eating out of your hand.
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