Second Chance: Holiday Adoptions

04 Dec Second Chance: Holiday Adoptions

As is always the case during the holidays, adoptions have slowed down significantly at Second Chance Humane Society. Understandably, people don’t consider this busy season a good time to adopt a pet because they are on the go or traveling.  But I am writing today to urge you to reconsider. What better way to bring some light and good cheer into your home and holidays than to adopt a homeless pet?

And here are a few more compelling reasons:

• Most pet owners (94%) say their pet makes them smile more than once a day.
• Pet owners see doctors 25% fewer times than people who don’t have pets.
• 75% of people sign their pet’s name on greeting cards and 58% include their pets in family and holiday portraits.
• Some 39% of pet owners say they have more photos of their pet than of their spouse or significant other.

One consideration when considering a holiday pet adoption, however, is whether adopting pets as gifts for others is advisable. Many animal welfare organizations have a policy that pets should not be adopted as gifts and that is based on the longstanding belief that animals who weren’t specifically chosen by their new adopters may be considered less valuable – or perhaps the giftee is not really ready to assume that responsibility.

Well, I am delighted to report that this belief is actually counter to research by the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other experts in the field.

In 2013, the ASPCA surveyed people who had received their pets as gifts in order to learn more about their attachment to – and the retention of – that pet and found no correlation between getting an animal as a gift and an owner’s love and attachment to said pet – even if that pet was a surprise – and no increased risk of relinquishment for dogs and cats received as gifts.​

These results are all well and good, but they don’t address the fact that adopting a pet is in fact a big commitment. Given that the Second Chance shelter staff are trained to help determine the best match for a new adopter and a shelter pet, they prefer you purchase a gift of an adoption for someone else and let that person or family actually come in and choose the pet they most connect with. Just give us all a call and chat with us about holiday pets as gifts. Promise, we won’t bite.

LOLA & PANDA:

Happy Holidays everyone! My name is Lola and I would undeniably bring the gift of love and companionship to the family that gives me a nurturing home this holiday season. Or if you are looking for something in the feline line, let me suggest Panda. He is a very nice quiet kitten and not overly rambunctious which is my favorite kind. Panda was around three months old when he arrived here at Second Chance and has been here a little over a month.

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles at least one, generally two of the many animals now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent homes. The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)

Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shop are both located in Ridgway, but service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties. Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs. View the shelter pets and services online:www.adoptmountainpets.org.