POSITIVE!!
By Charlaine Harris
Let’s talk about something wonderful. It’s about time, huh?
This past weekend was Clear the Shelters weekend. NBC Universal sponsored it, in coordination with more than 680 animal shelters. Applicants could adopt a pet (dog, cat, iguana, rooster) for a greatly reduced adoption fee, and a waived or reduced spay-neuter fee.
And how did people respond? More than 45,000 animals were adopted. In Texas, the lines were long to get inside facilities housing potential pets.
I live in Texas. At least eleven shelters in Texas were empty after Saturday, including one in nearby Glen Rose. Empty! I’m rejoicing in the positive side of this. I’m rejoicing in seeing the pictures of shelter workers standing in empty dog cages.
I know, you’re thinking . . . Some of these people won’t be good owners. Some of them will abandon or mistreat the animal they adopted. But that’s always the case. Terrible but factual.
I am gobsmacked by the reality that many, many people turned out to stand in the hot sun to wait their turns to pick a forever pet. I am delighted by the fact that lots of shelter workers get to stay home today. I love seeing this great instance of the good side of human nature.
I hope it makes you happy, too. I was drawn to write about this by our own two rescues, Colt and Abigail. Our daughter found Colt wandering around a parking lot, and we discovered Abigail in our local shelter. We have never been sorry they are part of our family.
45,000 animals! The idea that there were that many in the first place, sigh...
I found my Lola (actually, she found me..) at the Atlanta Humane society. We were best friends for 20 years.
Agreed, Charlaine, many love stories began that weekend!
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | July 25, 2016 at 06:29 AM
Was this not the best idea EVER? Kudos to the people at NBC Universal, which includes many stations, for coming up with this great, and humane, program.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | July 25, 2016 at 06:31 AM
When our 17 year old dog (who had been thrown away 16 years before near the TN/KY border) we decided 3 rescued cats were enough and we would not get another dog. That was before we went hiking in the Shawnee National Forest in IL and found a pitiful scrap of nasty flea and tick infested dog. With no shelter nearby we took her to our vet, cutting short our mini vacation. Once washed, fumigated and what hair that didn't fall out was shaved she has turned out to be a mixed breed mostly Pomeranian whose full coat is a beautiful red. Her name is Swamp Fox
Posted by: Susan Neace | July 25, 2016 at 06:49 AM
That's truly a happy ending for all of you.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | July 25, 2016 at 07:17 AM
I just read in the vet. column in the paper that there are efforts to recruit service dogs from shelters, often more adaptable and capable of helping.
Posted by: Storyteller Mary | July 25, 2016 at 07:47 AM
That's true. There are some breeds that are more appropriate than others, and a mix including that breed is often very successful at the work.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | July 25, 2016 at 07:48 AM
That is good news, Charlaine. So many pets with forever homes. You've made my day.
Posted by: Elaine Viets | July 26, 2016 at 11:12 AM
I sure wanted to hear some good news. And I got it.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | July 26, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Finally some happy news! I got my two cats from a sailor being transferred to Italy. I sent him pictures every couple of weeks so he would know they were ok until he left. He really missed them, he had them from kitten stage and his house felt so empty after they were gone. Now my house isn't empty anymore and I am easy to train. HA!
Posted by: Wanda M | July 31, 2016 at 07:46 PM