This Christmas, many families will choose to welcome a furry friend into their home. By choosing adoption from local shelters like the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) or the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC), you not only save money but also save a life.
The Benefits of Adoption
Adopting a pet is a cost-effective and responsible choice. Both MADACC and WHS prepare their animals for adoption with comprehensive care, which typically includes:
- Free spay and neuter
- Rabies vaccinations
- Microchip
- Dewormer and flea treatment
- A cursory medical exam
WHS and MADACC aim to make compatible matches through a conversational, educational adoption process. They focus on understanding potential pet owners’ lifestyles to find an animal that is the right fit.
Debunking Shelter Misconceptions
There is a common misconception that shelter animals all have behavioral or health issues. In reality, animals are most often surrendered to shelters due to financial challenges or a lack of pet-friendly housing, not because of issues with the animal itself.
As Kate Hartlund from MADACC explains, shelter pets are “great, they just got dealt a bad hand… They end up here by no fault of their own.” Angela Speed of WHS adds that surrendering is “more about finances than issues with the animal.”
The True Impact of Your Choice
While adoption is a wonderful act that helps empty a kennel for the next animal in need, both organizations stress that lasting change requires the community to stop supporting pet stores and breeders.
Hartlund states, “Adopting from us is great… but until people stop supporting backyard breeders and until people stop supporting pet stores and puppy mills, they’re just going to keep going.”
Adoption makes a difference, but a long-term solution lies in our collective commitment to responsible pet sourcing.
Not Ready to Adopt? There are Other Ways to Help
If you’re not ready to adopt, you can still support your local shelters and the animals in their care:
- Volunteer or Foster: Both WHS and MADACC are always looking for volunteers and foster families to provide temporary, loving homes.
- Donate: Donations of pet supplies (food, treats, toys) and cleaning supplies are always needed. WHS has an online wishlist, and MADACC is often in need of items like unopened food, pee pads, and cleaning supplies.
This Christmas, commit to the message: Adopt, don’t shop. By choosing a shelter pet, you are giving the gift of a loving home and directly addressing the issue of pet overpopulation.
