The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be the most active at pet shops and shelters across the county. Everyone seems to want to bring home a playful puppy or cuddly kitten, but local experts say not everyone seems to take into account the level of commitment that comes with adopting a pet.
A report by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says only half of the 6.5 million animals that arrive at an animal shelter each year are adopted. In Garland County, the number of stray animals, surrendered animals, and animals rescued from abusive situations going into shelters that euthanize and those that do not are equally high.
"In a single month, we could probably get anywhere between 75 and 200 animals through our doors. It just depends on the time of year. Right now, we are in cat season so we have a lot of cats. Once their breeding season dies down, we slack on cats and suddenly everyone wants one. The dogs come in all the time, regardless of the time of year," said Hot Springs Animal Services Coordinator Michelle Stone.
Hot Springs Animal Services is one of the only euthanization shelters in Garland County, meaning they are forced to euthanize animals once the kennels reach capacity. Because HSAS is one of the only shelters required to euthanize animals, Stone said every adoption from their shelter saves the lives of at least two animals.
"(When someone adopts from HSAS), they're not only saving one dog (or cat from euthanasia), they're saving two. They're taking one out the door and making room for another dog (or cat) to stay here a little bit longer. So I always stress that to people and I always want them to know that if they do decide to give one of these animals a second chance, it could be one of the best pets they ever have," Stone said.
Stone and HER Magazine created personality profiles on some of the animals available for adoption at the shelter as a service to readers who may be considering getting a pet for the holiday season.
While these profiles may entice some readers immediately, local veterinarian Jessica Rhodes says research and time are two of the most important elements any future pet owner should address before going to a shelter.
As far as gifting a pet, "just make sure the person receiving the gift is ready for it. We do see a lot of people who weren't expecting a new animal (come into the clinic), trying to figure out how to make that work. It's not always the best gift for everyone. ... It's more than just which puppy is the cutest; there's a lot that goes into it," said Rhodes, a Countryside Animal Hospital veterinarian.
Rhodes suggests that potential pet owners become familiar with the animal's specific breed or mix, establish contact with a local veterinarian, and purchase pet supplies before they bring home a new family member. She also noted that animals living in shelters might require extra love and attention during such a major transition.
"Just because they're cowering in the corner doesn't mean they are not adoptable. You just need to be aware of what that pet is going to need to be social and interact with your family," Rhodes said.
"Any change in their routine can be hard. Animals are creatures of habit; they like for things to be predictable and the same. So animals at the shelter have usually been though one home already, if not multiple homes. Now, they're getting adopted and go into yet another home (and this can cause) them to be a little cautious of the people around them and their new environment," Rhodes said.
The most important move, by far, that a pet owner can take to ensure their pet lives a long, healthy life is having them spayed or neutered. Rhodes and Stone agree that this not only helps control a growing animal population, but also contributes to their overall health.
"There are some health benefits to dogs and cats in particular when they are spayed or neutered versus when they are not. We can prevent mammary cancer in dogs and cats if we spay them prior to their first heat cycle. About one in four dogs will develop mammary cancer if they are not spayed. (Animals) can also get reproductive cancers as well as prostate diseases when they are not neutered. So there are definitely benefits," Rhodes said.
Every animal adopted from Hot Springs Animal Services is spayed or neutered. They also microchip each animal and hand out vouchers to help cover the cost of a spay or neuter procedure for people not surrendering animals. Everything is included in a small adoption fee. Rhodes also suggest establishing contact with a veterinarian within 48 hours of adoption and schedule a checkup to ensure the animal is healthy and has all its vaccinations.
For more information about one of the animals featured in this article, contact Hot Springs Animal Services at 262-2091. At the time of the interview, all of the animals featured in this article were available for adoption. HER Magazine cannot guarantee these animals will still be available for adoption at the time this issue is published. If the animal is no longer available, it has found a "fur-ever" home. However, plenty of other animals are waiting to be adopted from the kennels at Hot Springs Animal Services, 319 Davidson Drive.
HER Magazine on 11/15/2019