The Power of Paws

If you had to guess, how many animals do you think are put into shelters every year? It’s a lot more than you think: about 6.5 million. Out of that 6.5 million, only 3.2 million are adopted, as referenced on The Zebra website.

Helping animals find their furever home does more than just take them out of shelters, but has multiple benefits to your physical being and well being too! If you have a bad case of winter depression and know you can take on adopting, take a trip to your local shelter and allow the animal to choose you.

Adopt Don’t Shop

Adopting an animal rather than shopping for one will always be the more ethical decision, for both you and whichever furry companion you end up with. People will breed animals for a profit, but they don’t keep the offspring or their parents in stable conditions. These animals have a lack of human interaction which causes constant fear and stress.

When we are born, it is a crucial developmental step to spend time with our mothers. However, when breeders breed animals, the newborns are typically taken away from their moms at an early age. It is not ideal to separate animals from their mothers until they reach 8-12 weeks, according to vet.cornell.edu, and often times this happens a lot sooner amongst breeders.

The breeding effect not only traumatizes the offspring, but the mothers, too. Breeders want to produce as much offspring as possible to make their quick buck, so they usually don’t give the mothers a break from pregnancy. Breeders also don’t check for any inheritable disorders or remove animals who are more likely to produce unhealthy offspring. Babies who do not make it through the birth will have a tremendous effect on the mother’s mental being, the same as how humans react to the loss of their own newborn. 

A Second Chance At Love

When you adopt an animal, you’re giving them a second chance at life. From being found in a dumpster or tied to a tree, these animals were left scared and hopeless. Giving them a place to call home will transform them from a skittish personality to one full of life. 

Shelter animals are traumatized after being dumped by the owners they believed once loved them. Having that second chance brings them a deeper level of love and appreciation for their new home. Their history does not define their full potential. While it may take some time for them to break out of their shell, the bond between a pet and its owner is one that can’t be beat.

@jaxwithatwist

Two years ago today we walked into the shelter to see a cat we saw online. When we entered his cage with his picture on it was empty. They told us the cat had to be moved to a separate room in the back because he was “too mean” he wasn’t getting along with the other cats, and was mean to all the people. Now we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Then we met him, there he was… the tiniest, most terrified little kitty. He didn’t want to be touched and let out the smallest little growls whenever we got close. Every sound, every movement seemed to frighten him, it broke my heart. But then… something magical happened. When we finally picked him up and placed him into my husband’s lap, it was like a switch flipped. In that moment, Jax realized he was safe. His little body relaxed, and he melted completely into my husband’s arms. The fear, the hesitation, it all disappeared, replaced with trust and love. It was instant. He had found his person, and my husband knew he had found the cat who was meant for us. That ten-minute moment changed everything. Today, we celebrate the scared little shelter kitty who chose us, trusted us, and stole our hearts forever. 🐾

♬ A Close Friend – James Newton Howard

When shelters receive animals, they prioritize their health and well-being. Not every diagnosis has a cure, but shelters will give them any necessary vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and veterinary care. A lot of shelters have vets and vet technicians on staff, ensuring they receive the proper medical attention they need.

Healing Paws

Animals and pets have been proven to drastically change both the mental and physical being of a person. Newsinhealth.nih.gov shares that interacting with animals decreases levels of cortisol and lowers blood pressure. It can also reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and overall be a mood booster.

Sometimes, there is no better medicine than the love from an animal. In Elizabeth Anderson’s book, “The Powerful Bond of People and Pets,” she says, “the icing on the cake is that our companion animals may be good medicine.”

Without even realizing, adopting an animal can automatically reshape both your mental and physical being. Walking is one of the most simple yet effective exercises for you. With a dog per se, you have no choice but to walk daily! Not only is this beneficial to you, but to your pet as well. 

A Bond Beyond Words

I had the opportunity to interview the shelter director of EASEL Animal Shelter based in Ewing, New Jersey. They witness many animals coming in petrified and left behind, but receive the rewarding feeling of watching them return back to their normal selves and find their furever home. 

One wholesome story stood out, as it truly illustrates just how much the impact of an animal can have on its owner. 

A child and their family attended a cat show and wanted to look at other shelters to see more cats. The child, who is nonverbal, went to EASEL and looked at all the different kitties. One cat in particular stood out to them the most, and from just a simple pet, they knew it was the one. 

“They talk to the cat,” said Lori Cima, the shelter director of EASEL who has been with the shelter since 2022. This cat, who was also introverted, managed to help both itself and the child blossom. 

“The cat has been really helping them with their speech and their communication in general,” said Jannet Lopes, the shelter’s receptionist. “Seeing a cat that was once super shy and reserved come out of its shell for a little kid is a really big step. Even though the cat wasn’t meant to be an emotional support animal, that’s eventually what it ended up doing. They both helped each other.”