Please, please, please do not breed or buy while shelter pets die.

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Every animal I have ever had was in immediate need of a home

None of them came from a traditional rescue organization.

None ever will.

There are many other places to obtain such an animal. Some considerably less glamorous and all considerably less recognized as a source to find an animal in need of a home. Sometimes they come at no cost - or lower cost than that of a rescue organization. Sometimes the animal comes with a medical history. Sometimes they come with shots, spay/neuter and basic training. Usually you don't have to deal with 20+ page applications to adopt that require a recommendation from your first grade teacher (ok maybe not but many groups do have a highly intrusive application process). Usually you do not have to contract to surrender the animal back to the rescue group should it become necessary to re-home the animal. Sorry, but if I have had the animal for any length of time then I am the one most suited to make that decision because I am the one who best knows the animals' experiences, needs, preferences and acquaintances.

I have known several vets that rescue animals from shelters and rescue groups - not to mention the animals that are dumped in their clinics or left tied to their door. It is not uncommon for shelters and some rescue groups to euthanize animals for treatable medical conditions - even for such minor things as ringworm. The vets I have known who did that often placed the animals through their own practice without any cost whatsoever. My own vet does that and only asks for voluntary conributions. In the past I have contributed money and towels and labor and ...... to her efforts. I'll continue to do so.

Thanks for the reminder.