animal. We want every adoption to be the best match possible.
Who takes care of your foster dog when you are at work? I have a group of creative friends who jump in to help. It’s easy to ask them to help with a foster dog because it lets them be part of the rescue. That way, they are doing a favor more for the dog than for me.
How do spay/neuter programs benefit shelter animals? When I was 10, I volunteered at the Humane Society in Fort Smith, Arkansas, so being the spokesperson for Spay First is a natural fit. High volume/low cost spay/neuter programs are the fastest way to reduce pet overpopulation and the number of animals ending up in shelters. Every year, taxpayers spend billions of dollars to house, euthanize and dispose of millions of animals. Spay/neuter is a commonsense way to permanently solve the problem. Spay First works to keep the cost less than $50, especially in rural and lower income areas, and actively campaigns to make this a community priority around the country.
How can caring people help? Donate money or items found on a shelter or rescue unit’s wish list. Walk a shelter dog to keep it social and ac- tive. Foster a dog to see if having a dog fits and enhances your life. The rescue group pays the bills, support is avail- able and it’s a good way to explore the possibility of adoption. Once you know for sure, adopt.
Also talk about the benefits of fos- tering and adopting dogs and the impor- tance of affordable spay/neuter programs for dogs and cats in your community. Spread the word that it is not okay to buy a puppy or kitten in a store when we are discarding millions of shelter animals each year that desperately need homes. Puppies are cute, but older dogs already are what they’re going to be— what you see is what you happily get.
For more information or to make a donation, visit
SpayFirst.org.
Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines.
natural awakenings March 2013 45
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