Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local dog shelter, Saved Me on Third St. and Poplar St. in Philadelphia. It is a very well kept shelter and is a no-kill shelter. This is not a common thing in Philadelphia due to how many strays there are throughout the city. Because of all of the strays, a lot of the animal shelters throughout the city do euthanize. This is one of the many reasons you should adopt and not shop.
Cowgirl at Saved Me
These dogs need a home. Many of them are abused and beaten for no reason. Animal cruelty is an issue, which is why we need to get the dogs out of the street and into the shelters. When these shelters get full, a lot of them have no other choice but to euthanize. There are two ways that I see plausible to reduce this, either by spaying or neutering the dogs or by adopting.
Angel at Saved Me
Not one young animal deserves to die. These dogs were just born in the wrong place at the wrong time and could not fend for themselves. They just want to be in a home where they feel loved. You could be the one to love one of these dogs.
Bolo at Saved Me
Walking into this dog shelter was sad but I have never seen so many animals get so excited all at once. All of the dogs started jumping on their doors, begging to get out. Throughout the day, we took all of the dogs on walks and helped around the shelter. I loved every minute of it.
Pich at Saved Me
One thing I noticed about the dogs was how well behaved and sweet all of them were. None of them tried to fight. The pit bulls, who have a popular reputation for being vicious, were kind and cuddly. None of them ever tried to bite or attack any of us. They were thankful for us coming in to help them, and it showed.
Aster at Saved Me
When you go to a pet store, all of the dogs there most likely came from puppy mills. This can cause a lot of health issues for the dog and can end up costing you thousands of dollars. At Saved Me, none of the dogs are allowed to be adopted until they are spayed/neutered, updated on all shots and seen by the vet. You are getting a healthy dog when you adopt.
Adopting saves lives. By adopting, one less dog is being euthanized. So next time you are looking to add to your family, look to your local dog shelter. You will be doing more good than harm and helping out an animal who deserves a good life.
