Think of all the animals sitting in shelters, watching others around them get taken to loving homes. They wait all day for someone to notice them. What happens to these animals? Some animals go weeks unnoticed. Here are reasons why you should consider adopting animals from shelters and get to know shelter animals.

I have volunteered for over a year at the MSPCA and love spending time with all the new cats each week. Some animals can stay at a shelter for a long time because they may be older, or have certain health conditions. These animals deserve a loving family just as much as the others. Before you adopt, you always need to have proper knowledge of how to care for an animal.

Throughout my time volunteering at the MSPCA, I’ve met many different cats from different backgrounds. Some cats were there for weeks at a time, which meant I was able to get to know them. Sometimes, they start out super shy and hate interactions with people. Then, they would open up slowly throughout the following weeks and become the sweetest, most loving cats. 

There are a few cats that I connected with, Andromeda being the first. She had some health issues which kept her around for longer. But, she was the most loving cat. I remember her being a shy cat at first. She opened up and would come right to you when you walked into her room. She would rub up against you and just wanted to be loved. I would sit on the ground and she would climb all over me and sit in my lap. She was a gorgeous girl with a big heart. She ended up being adopted and I was so excited for her new journey. 

The next cat is Theo. This cute boy came into the shelter not liking people one bit. I remember him being very shy at first, and he wouldn’t like it when you got near. I don’t remember the weeks in between, but he became the light of my week. I would put down his food and he would jump on my back. He would snuggle in my lap and wait for pets. Like Theo, many animals don’t get adopted because of their conditions. 

Animals need time to open up, giving animals a second chance at life after they went through a tough upbringing is so important. Getting a pet this holiday season for your family is a wonderful idea. But, pets are a huge responsibility. 

Here are some things to consider when adopting a pet for the holidays.

Pros:

• Your family is home for the holidays and can help the pet adjust to their new home.
• Adopting pets gives animals the home they deserve.
• Adopting animals will help shelters provide somewhere for more animals to go.
• Pets are a great addition to any family by giving people new joy in their lives and bringing them together.
• Animals can make people have a more organized life because they need to care for their pets routinely.

Cons:

• Being home for the holidays means you will have a lot more time, but when you go back to your daily life you may not have the time to take care of an animal anymore.
• Giving someone a pet as a gift may mean they have no prior knowledge of how to take care of this pet.
• People may need to realize when getting a pet that you are not able to travel as much due to the responsibility.
• Many pets can get brought back to a shelter after the holidays once people go back to work because they don’t know how much goes into taking care of a pet.

Here are some of my tips for getting pets during the holidays.

• Learn about what the animal’s needs are.
• Make sure to find an animal that is right for you and your family.
• Give the animal time to adjust to its new home without overwhelming the pet.
• Know how much money you need to buy food, toys, and vet visits.
• Know how much time you will need to put aside for the animal.

If you decide to adopt a pet this holiday season, I recommend adopting from a shelter such as the MSPCA. You should always make sure that your family will be able to take care of an animal and have proper knowledge on how to care for one.