A lot of us can relate to the excitement that comes with picking out and inviting a new furry friend into our lives. The commotion and buzz of adding an additional member to your family can often make us overlook the big question of who exactly we’re buying from. What conditions do these pets live in? What happens to the ones that don’t get adopted?
More than 400 jurisdictions across North America have passed Humane Pet Sale laws prohibiting all commercial cat and dog sales. Hillsborough County has jumped on board, forcing existing pet stores to close. This helps shine light on all the other options there are out there for individuals looking to adopt. “When I came to Hillsborough County, I saw the future of animal sheltering as more customer-focused operation and that we would become a community resource,” Scott Trebatoski, Director of Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We were the first shelter in the country to take that concept and brand ourselves as the ‘Pet Resource Center.’”
The local center is government operated and offers a wide range of services from helping people keep their pets, rehome their pets, to assisting and caring for abused pets and more. He began work in Hillsborough County back in 2014, but has spent over 20 years in this field, his passion coming from the ability to make real, meaningful changes. “During my career changes have been dramatic, with many shelters killing 90% of animals 20 years ago to many saving 90+% today,” Trebatoski says.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is another local shelter that’s mission is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their pets, saving over 10,000 (93% save rate) in 2020. Down the block from the Humane Society isa full-size animal hospital for the public offering low, affordable prices. The nonprofit built it back in 2012 because they realized that a lot of people struggled financially if their pet got sick or hurt. They’re looking to acquire funding to build a second story onto the hospital. With its recent expansions, the Humane Society will probably see about 13,000-14,000 animals this year, up from the 11,000 they housed last year.
Currently there isn’t a government institution or animal organization responsible for tracking national statistics in the animal protection movement, so most of the data available is based on estimates. The standards set by the government aren’t in place to ensure the dogs have a good life, it only requires breeders to give them the bare minimum, granting them the grand luxury of six inches of space on each side of them. They are essentially a “factory farm” for dogs.
Although more and more Americans have begun taking a stand against puppy mills, the 10,000 (give or take) that still exist in the U.S. show that there is still a lot of work to do. Nearly all pet store dogs are supplied by puppy mills despite the fancy-sounding registrations they throw on their ads. Having a USDA license doesn’t prove they’re given good care, it’s just proof that the minimal amount is given. As convincing as it may be, you should never buy a pet online. The first red flag is when breeders won’t even let you see where these animals are living.
Best Friends Animal Society, based out of Kanab, Utah, is a leading national animal welfare organization that’s dedicated to ending the killing of cats and dogs in shelters across the whole U.S. Partnering with over 2,100 animal welfare groups across the country, they’ve played an essential role in reducing the number of animals killed nationwide, bringing it down from 17 million to about 1.5 million. However, that’s still more than 4,100 killed daily just because they haven’t been able to find home. By 2025 its goal is to get this number down to 0.
“I was always the little girl that brought home a stray kitty or dog… frankly I just have almost an uncontrollable passion of wanting to help the underdog,” Sherry Silk, Chief Executive Officer at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay says. She just recently adopted a black and white cat that someone had called into the shelter because they found it in their backyard with a cut along his neck. “He was just a bloody, awful, infected mess… he kind of became a local celebrity because it was just so horrific to see, yet he purred when anybody touched him,” Silk says. “For some reason when animals are not treated well it doesn’t seem to sour their disposition and they still trust us. I just fell in love with him so much, he has such a fighting spirit and I think he represents most animals.”
Many shelters have an issue with long-term stays, which can be hard on these older animals. The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center makes sure to get its long-term residents outside for day trips or get them into temporary homes, providing them with physical and mental enrichment to help prevent them from deteriorating. “We believe tomorrow should be a little bit better than today, reinforcing continuous improvement,” Trebatoski says. “While we try to manage the inflow of pets to best serve each and every pet, the reality is we are always prepared to take the pet that has nowhere else to go… we want to be the first place for information and resources people need when they think they can’t find help.”
Some people may be looking for a specific breed and plenty of puppy stores sell these coveted dogs for thousands of dollars, but the problem is what is behind the scenes. Because of the demand, businesses are mass-producing these pets in puppy mills, forcing the moms to breed repeatedly. The conditions can be compared to the factory-farm production of the animals and food we buy daily. There is no consideration for the mental wellbeing of the animal which is the exact opposite of what you’d expect while looking through the glass into your new puppy’s hopeful eyes.
Visit local shelters first, even if you must drive 50 miles out, you’re making a lifetime commitment that deserves those extra few miles you may have to put on your tank. “It might not be the exact breed you’re asking for, but it really is the fit that is important, not the breed or mix of the pet,” Trebatoski says. “There are a number of times throughout the past 20-plus years that I have both questioned whether I should do this and answered that this is the absolutely right place for me. Adopting helps an unwanted pet find a forever home and avoid any possibility of dying in a shelter or rescue.”
Homeless pets deserve a chance too. “There’s a big difference between paying for a dog and adopting one… I think most people, and I know I believe this, feel like you’re making a significant difference in that animal’s life,” Silk says. “You save one at a time, that’s what it’s all about.”
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