Article updated in 2012.

It’s raining cats and dogs. I’m not talking about the weather. Of course, I am literally talking about the subject of cats and dogs. Some time ago I had the opportunity to visit a NYCAC, a place where stray cats and dogs are collected, protected, vaccinated and delivered to people who want to adopt them. Back then I had no idea what the animal population was in my city or country. I started learning about this very early on and was very pleased to learn that I did more than save a cat’s life when I decided to adopt. As silly as it sounds, I probably saved generations of cats and kittens with my one action of adopting instead of buying an animal.

Here are some facts you may not know yet:

did you know

Every day 10,000 humans are born in the United States. And every day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals. As a result, millions of healthy and loving cats, dogs, kittens and puppies face untimely deaths as a form of animal control. Others are left to fend for themselves against cars, the elements, animals, and cruel humans. What can you do to stop the suffering? Spay and neuter your pets! Work with SPAYUSA and together we can make a difference. A non-sterilized dog, her partner and all her puppies, if none have been neutered or sterilized, add up: in 1 year 16 animals, 2 years 128 animals, 3 years five hundred and twelve animals, 4 years equals 2048, 5 years twelve thousand two hundred eighty-eight. In six years, those animals will have produced more than sixty-seven thousand animals of that family.

That quote is directly from Spay USA.

As long as you keep buying animals instead of adopting animals, you become part of the problem. If you are considering an animal entering your family’s space, please consider adopting that animal instead of going to a store to pick it out. Always opt for adoption. By opting for adoption, you are saving the life of an animal.

Here’s how to adopt:

• Find an adoption center near you and go there.
• Ask friends for recommendations. Maybe you know someone who is giving up a dog or cat for adoption.
• Prepare your house before the animal arrives. (Buy a pet dish, cleaning supplies, and everything else your pet should receive when that pet is adopted.
• Place a free ad in the newspaper saying you would like to adopt.
• Check your community yellow pages and make sure your writing is connected
• Place a free ad in a local newspaper stating that you are available for local adoption of an animal. There are hundreds of ways to prepare yourself and your pet for an adoption event.

Important safety note: If they are animal lovers, pet owners for anyone who knows someone who has pets, let them know that no one should pet cats or dogs on leashes, indoors or outdoors. Many pets are killed or endangered when tied up in the open and unattended. If your pet is on a leash, you must be there with it. Otherwise, your pet may strangle on its own leash. When dogs are tied up outdoors and left unattended, some of them are attacked by wild animals (squirrels, opossums, raccoons) and may be killed by them. Also, some of these wild animals may have rabies. So by tying up animals and leaving them unattended, you are putting your pets in great danger.

Other security notes: Keep chocolate away from animals. I have heard that some have bad reactions and also that chocolate is fatal to dogs. (Not sure about the cats). Grapes are fatal to cats. A long time ago I had a cat who loved salad. He loved the salad. And one day he was giving her the salad and he was offering her a grape that came inside the fruit salad. He backed away from the grape as if it were a predator. He surprised me because he loved natural foods. It wasn’t until years later that I read at a vet’s office that cats shouldn’t eat grapes because they can be fatal to cats. wow. This cat knew what was not good for him. He won’t go near the feet of a grape. He is amazing how God created creatures in such a way that even if they do not have scientific knowledge, their bodies know what is good for them and what is not good for them. Even man has that built-in power: to know what is good and what is not good. Do you remember your first cigarette? He probably choked and choked, but he kept smoking anyway. Hey, Bud, that choking was a warning that cigarettes are fatal to human beings. But we, unlike cats, decide to go against our nature and our health, if we continue to smoke. So today, having nothing to do with cats and animals, do yourself a favor and stop doing the things your body says are wrong. You’ll be glad you did yourself that favor.

Remember, adopting a pet is helping save the world, save animals and save lives. Make your next stop at an adoption site or shelter. Today, all over the world, puppy mills are producing unhealthy puppies and dogs. Why help support them? Help support the animals that are already here and you can make a difference in someone’s life.