25 Reasons You Should Adopt Your Pets in Western New York

You’ve seen the shirts and bumper stickers of how rescue pets say, “My rescue pet actually saved me.” It may be cliché at this point…but it’s true.

Rescue pets are incredibly special. Most of them have been through more in their short lives than most people will ever see. Some have been abandoned, abused and used. They were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. It’s not always a malicious situation. Sometimes people realize that their pets will have a better life in someone else’s house. Maybe they got sick and can’t take care of them anymore. Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys the life of a pet the way some do.

I’ve had animals all my life. Most were dogs that were mutts that people sold, or dogs that people couldn’t take care of anymore. Now that I am an adult, we have made the choice to adopt as often as possible.

We have three dogs. Two of them were rescued directly by relief organizations here in Western New York. Her name is Gerti and we chose her to accompany the dog we already had. She was what they call a “Mill Mama”. She was literally used as a baby factory. They would mate him as often as they could. She lived her life in a crate. When we got her, she couldn’t even play. She had never seen a toy. She was never able to go to the bathroom anywhere other than in her crate. His life consisted of eating, drinking and having puppies.

She is now my wife’s best friend. I have never seen a bond like the two have. Gerti follows her everywhere when she is there and never leaves her. She is one of the few people Gerti will go to, but she is never far from her.

Our other real rescue is my English Bulldog that I talk about all the time. Her name is Minnie Pearl and when I come home she comes and sits with me and lays her head on my chest like she misses me. It’s one of my favorite moments of my day.

She was a “Mill Mama” too. When we got her, she was only 1.5 years old. She had to be neutered like all rescues are (to prevent someone from catching them and continuing to breed them) before we could bring her home. They had discovered that at just over a year old, she already showed 5 C-section scars. It could also be failed pregnancies…

They breed them until they can’t anymore, then they get rid of them. It’s a horrible life. But you can be the change for them. And they will thank you forever.

I know there are people who have struggled with some relief organizations. Sometimes the demands are high. These dogs have been through hell many times and they want to make sure it doesn’t continue with their new families. I admit that not all rescues are created equal. If you’re having trouble with any of them and you don’t get along with them. Try with another. There are many great organizations here at WNY. Keep trying.

I have two reasons listed above why I think saving pets is so important. Here are 25 more. These are all real pets from people here in Western New York who opened their homes to dogs (and a cat) in need. Sometimes they’re more work than others…but they’re all worth it.