Do you really need a pet? Come on, really?!?!

OK, the title of this blog is a rhetorical question. Of course you need a pet. Pet's are the great, unsung medicine. It is an accepted fact that just petting a dog or cat will lower your blood pressure. People who own pets live longer and healthier lives. Dogs are especially helpful for those who suffer from mental or emotional disorders. And to cap it all off, if you are broken, ie recovering from surgery, you heal faster when in the company of a dog or cat. Honestly, if you got this kink of return from human children I think there would be a population explosion! "The doctor says I need to lower my blood pressure. Let's have a baby." Hmmmm, I just don't think it works that way.

The really issues start to pop up when it comes to how you go about getting a new dog or cat. And to be honest, whether it is a human, a dog or a cat the criteria always seems to be the same when it comes to adoption: purebred and as young as possible. Ugh! It just breaks my heart. While I don't want to judge. (I'll leave that to Zara.) Why do so many people make such a narrow search. I understand that you get a picture in your mind as to what you want but why does it have to be such a visual and superficial picture. Why does "new" always mean puppy or kitten. And why does "breed" always mean purebred? Everyone loses out a bit when your search is so narrow and confining.

Let's start with the whole "new" concept. How about instead of puppy or kitten we look at them as "new to you." There are so many dogs and cats out there that have some time already on their clocks. They are in rescues, adoption centers, local pounds and foster homes. They have been pulled out of abusive homes, rescued from puppy mills, picked up on the streets or even tearfully turned in because of financial distress. And let me tell you, they come without many of the issues that you'll face with a puppy or kitten. Think about it, no house training, no teething, no chewing. Yes, they're slightly lower on the cuteness scale but you only get a few months of that anyway. Puppies and kittens, especially if you are a first time parent, quickly lose "cute" and turn into "Oh my God!" or "Why are you still!" Yeah, there are a host of advantages to adopting an adult dog or cat. Along with that, you get a certain level of awareness in a more mature adoption. Many people say that an adopted dog or cat is completely aware of just how lucky they are to be joining a new, loving family. On a personal note, both Zara and myself are well aware that we were dealt a winning hand through adoption. Please! Just look at the sign above our store. Those are our names up in lights. All those kisses I give and the little nibbles Zara likes to bestow are gratitude pure and simple.

Now let's talk breed. Yes, a purebred dog or cat is a beautiful sight. (Hey, you're looking at one right here.) But don't discount the mixed breed. Go out and stir the soup a little. Who doesn't like to have the best of both worlds - or even the best of three or four worlds. The mixed breed dog or cat can offer so much more in a single package. How about the kind gentle character of the Golden Retriever mixed with the protectiveness of a Rottweiler. Or the hypoallergenic fur of a Poodle mixed the hunting ability of a Weimaraner. The combinations are endless and always interesting as they usually came about unexpectedly. (Somebody got out of the fence.) Zara herself is a mixed breed. We think she is a Basenji/Pit mix but Russell's father pointed out that she has webbed feet like a Retriever. That would explain her love of swimming and her unbridled hunting instincts. Honestly, she would not be Zara if she were a pure breed dog.

So what am I trying to say here? It's pretty basic really. When you decide that it is time to bring a new soul into your family don't limit yourself. If I may quote, "Life is a banquet and some poor souls are starving to death." Step up and take a look at everything that is offered. Break that mindset that says, "It must be new and it must be pure." Look at it this way: you may be able to afford a brand new Chevrolet but if you bought something used you might walk away with a BMW. (John and his car analogies.) Zara was adopted from Arf House and I was at PAWS. You may very well find the best pet in the world at a similar place. Don't deprive yourself of a loving, thankful, beautiful, house-trained, more mature addition to your family. And remember: adopting a pet, like adopting a child, reserves you a special place in heaven...or wherever it is that you plan on ending up in this grand, multi-faith world of ours.

Zane