A SPECIAL APPEAL FROM STEPHANIE BROBEIL
There is a serious problem in this Country with the number of unwanted, unloved pets. Many of these animals are feral, while others languish in animal control kennels hoping for an adoption before the executioner comes. While there are many under-supported "no kill" shelters, both publicly supported and privately managed shelters are overwhelmed by the number of pets coming into their facilities. You can help. Please consider taking the following steps to help our suffering friends:
1. Spay or neuter your dogs or cats, unless you have specific intentions to breed them.
2. Consider adopting a pet from your local animal control or privately managed "no kill" shelter. You would be amazed at the variety, quality, and disposition of these animals. They are very intelligent, and know in their hearts that you saved them. Imagine the love, devotion, and loyalty that that would result ... in addition to their natural instinct to bond with humans. If you are interested in a pure bred dog, you have a couple of choices. First, you can contact a reputable breeder by calling or emailing either the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC). Even more importantly, you would be surpirsed at the number of pure bred dogs available at your local shelter. As an example, of Stephanie's six dogs, only one is a mixed breed (even though mixed breeds are most often the best choice). If you have a special breed in mind, some shelters will even put you on a list and give you a call when they receive a breed you are interested in.
3. Please do not purchase a dog from a pet store. These dogs frequently come from "puppy factories", who live and work under horrendous conditions. Because of over-breeding and in-breeding, they frequently suffer from the needless risk of genetic diseases.
4. Do not purchase a pet on a whim. It is not uncommon for people to acquire a pet, then later tire of the responsibilities of ownership, and essentially, throw the animal away. Most pets are highly intelligent and social creatures. They not only are likely to suffer a needless death, but are heartbroken in the process. Such suffering in totally unnecessary.
5. Resist the temptation to acquire an exotic pet that requires many hours of attention on a daily basis and special care. An example of this is the larger members of the parrot family. They are highly intelligent and extremely social. For example, a typical Amazon, Macaw, African Gray, or Cockatoo has the native intelligence of a four year-old child. They mate for life, and require constant (four or more hours per day) of intensive interaction to maintain their sanity. With the larger parrots, you are making a 70-year commitment, which is their normal lifespan. Parakeets and cockatiels, however, make fine pets. They are easy to train, require little care, offer most of the attributes of larger parrots, and can share a cage with others of their kind (but make sure you get them fixed!). Cockatiels are particularly robust and friendly.
6. Finally, you can contribute your time or donations to your local shelter. Most shelters are glad to get whatever help they can get ... and on your terms! Thank you for helping the animals!
Stephanie Brobeil