pet connection

Here’s our weekly Pet Connection syndicated column as it has appeared in our client newspapers across the country. In addition to the lead article on adoption guidelines — with a request to join in on the discussion– and a pitch for PetFinder –  Dr. Becker writes about the risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pets and the problems with scatter-shot antibiotics,  Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp offer some puppy-raising tips, and I provide some help in keeping your parrot well-fed:

By Gina Spadafori
Universal Press Syndicate

The day Ellen DeGeneres was weeping on her talk show over pet-rescue volunteers who took back a dog she’d given away, I was in the midst of adopting a dog from a different rescue group. And I was reminded, again, of two things:

• All rescue groups are different, in terms of philosophies and policies.
• Good contracts make good adoptions, but good people make better ones.

The day after the Ellen DeGeneres weepfest, I was finalizing the adoption, including initialing a contract with a paragraph now jokingly called “The Ellen Clause.” And no, I won’t be giving this dog away without contacting the rescue group first. Because they explained the contract to me, and because I agreed to its terms. And because I know they’re only trying to help.

An interview, contract-signing, donation and home-check later, the dog is now in his forever home — mine. But I know my easy adoption experience isn’t universal, and I’ve heard many times from many people about how shelters and rescue groups make it too difficult for well-meaning families to adopt a pet.

How difficult? I’ve heard from people who’ve been turned down by a shelter or rescue group because they have an unneutered pet in the home (even though the pet they’re adopting is neutered and they aren’t planning to breed any pets at all). People who’ve been turned down because they won’t rule out declawing or won’t swear to keep a cat inside. People who don’t have fenced yards or those who live in apartments. And people, most notably in the case of the DeGeneres incident, who have children in the home.

Read the rest here … and join in the discussion here.

This week’s column is the first of a two-part series on shelter and adoption issues. Next week, Christie and I write about Nathan Winograd (”Redemption“) and Richard Avanzino (Maddie’s Fund) and  the impact they’ve had on the debate over how shelters should be run and how communities can help to place more pets in more (and better) homes.  We’ll also have full transcripts of Christie’s interviews with Winograd and Avanzino.