Illinois Valley News

One of my pet peeves provides a topic to get my claws into, as National Pet Week began Sunday and will run through Saturday, May 8. It seems a crime to me that people don“t have their cats or dogs spayed, then kill the puppies or kittens, often in horrible ways. I think that there“s an uncomfortable place for people who do that.

Diane Pomerance, who lives in North Texas, knows what people say about adopting pets from animal shelters and rescue organizations. In connection with National Pet Week, she“d like to dispel the myths. Although her comments are specifically about dogs, I believe that there“s also room to apply some of what she says to cats.

Said Pomerance, “They think, “I don“t want to inherit someone else“s problem,“ or they simply think that all the dogs there are abused or hard to train, or that they won“t be able to find the breed that they want.“ She“ s authored seven pet books, including Our Rescue Dog Family Album (www.animalcompanionsandtheirpeople.com).

Her family has saved and adopted more than 40 rescued dogs during the years — they currently have 21 in their home. Additionally, she has helped place hundreds more with good homes.

Sounds like a good person to me, although having 21 canines around the house sounds, um ... doggy. Hope that they“re all potty-trained. 

Pomerance does not work for an animal shelter or animal welfare organization. She is simply someone who has devoted much of her personal life to rescuing these dogs because she feels strongly about the value of these animals and the many gifts they can offer people. She also believes that people view animal shelters in a poor light because of their adherence to many popular “ but erroneous “ myths about shelter dogs:

*Most shelter dogs are sick or aggressive from abuse; *pet shop dogs are better quality animals; and *most of the dogs who are euthanized wouldn“t make good pets, anyway. Pomerance provides facts that blow away those long-held erroneous ways of thinking. She notes that rescued dogs receive better care and feeding than pet shop dogs, and that they are treated by veterinarians before they are offered for adoption.

And she states that rescuing a dog helps deplete the high population of animals in shelters and reduces the number of good, faithful, loving animals euthanized every year. It“s not just sick or dangerous dogs who are euthanized at shelters. In most cases, she says, many dogs who would make good pets are euthanized because of overcrowding in shelters.

In conclusion, she summarizes what many of us animal lovers feel, that, “Animals are deserving of our respect and appreciation, which is why we should try to be responsive individually to the crisis facing animal shelters today. They perform many important tasks for us “ in the military, as bomb and weapons detectors, as service animals, as healing companions and friends of the lonely and bereaved; and even as search-and-rescue assistants in natural and man-made disasters.

“They heal and even save human lives. It is scientifically substantiated that animal companions increase our longevity and improve the quality of our lives. We should also realize that getting a family pet should not be a decision or choice to take lightly.

“You“re not buying a car or getting a new electronic toy “ these are living, breathing, loving creatures with whom we share our world. If we choose to share our family with one, we should take care to ensure that we choose carefully and prudently so we can enhance not only our family“s life, but the dog“s, as well.“

All that should give us paws for thought.

We want to hear from you!
Add your thoughts with the link below.

Comments returning soon!

Back to top of story