Misconceptions about Shelter Pets

Regardless of the source of the animal, we know most pet owners are loving, caring pet parents.

However, there are many misconceptions about shelter pets that deter families who are looking to add a new furry family member to their household from adopting.

Often times, families are looking for a specific breed and do not think their local shelter will have that breed. The list of reasons pet lovers choose one breed over another is as long and varied as the dogs and cats themselves. Did you know that approximately 25 percent of dogs in shelters are purebreds? So you don’t need to purchase a dog to add a purebred to your family. And we’re thrilled that so many folks looking for the perfect pet start their search at the Arizona Humane Society.

But the truth is that there are also some folks out there who remain reluctant to rescue. We hear things like, “You don’t know what happened before you got him.” Or “I want a puppy so I can train it properly.” We work tirelessly to overcome this bias.

At AHS, the pets who come to us as strays are often sick or injured and are brought to our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™. Our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™ is the largest shelter-based trauma hospital for homeless animals in the Southwest. Our trauma hospital is dedicated to providing veterinary care for animals with nowhere else to turn. Many of these pets are well-mannered, trained pets who have simply become lost from their owners and were never reunited. The pets who have been surrendered by their owners, often times, are surrendered due to no fault of their own. A few of the most common reason we see owners surrendering their pets include owners who are moving and are unable to take the pet with them or owners who are no longer financially capable of caring for their pet. These pets too, are often well-trained, cared for pets who are just hoping to find a place to call home.

AHS Alumni, Porky Pig, is a great ambassador for the Arizona Humane Society and shelter pets all over the world. She came to AHS as a stray back in 2014 and now she proudly represents the many shelter pets that are waiting to find their fur-ever homes and helps expose the wrongful misconceptions many people have regarding pets in shelters.

Porky Pig’s mom, Kama, tells us,  “I adopted Porky Pig from the Arizona Humane Society’s Sunnyslope location on Halloween of 2014. This year, she became old enough to try and qualify for the 2016 USDAA Cynosport World Games. Amazingly, with only a few months left of the 2016 qualification period, she qualified in ALL FOUR tournament events! There are over 900 dogs from 11 countries competing in this year’s USDAA Cynosport World Games to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona at WestWorld from November 9th through the 11th.

Porky Pig has her very own Facebook page for viewers to follower her journey and watch her compete in the upcoming 2016 USDAA Cynosport World Games.

Someday, we’ll convince everyone to adopt, and not shop. But until then, here are a few tools to help consumers make the most informed decision.

Looking to add a new furry family member to your household? Check out our adoptable pups.