For many students, one of the most exciting things about living off campus is finally being able to have their own pet. Some go to breeders to find their perfect pug and others head to the local PetSmart to fawn over the kittens behind the glass windows.
But students should first consider adopting from the local animal shelter. Adults, especially those with small children, may have their reasons for wanting a pure-bred puppy. But for college students, there are few drawbacks to adopting a pet instead of buying one.
Most animal shelters don’t have the capacity to care for their animals for extended periods of time. Instead, they’re meant to be a sort of halfway house for stray animals which ideally are moved to foster homes, reclaimed by their owners (if they were lost) or adopted by a new owner.
Though the Orange County Animal Shelter doesn’t have a time limit on how long animals can stay there, they do have to euthanize some of them if the shelter reaches capacity. In the first two months of 2012, they had to euthanize about 30 percent of their animals — 60 dogs, cats and small rodents.
When compared to some shelters, this number is actually quite small. A shelter in Norfolk, Va., for example, euthanized 95 percent of its animals in 2011.
Nevertheless, 60 euthanized animals is 60 too many, and if more community members adopt from the shelter, this number can be reduced. Every adoption makes a difference.
And right now, adoption is easier than ever. Until Friday, the Orange County Animal Shelter is offering a reduced adoption fee of $60 (the usual fee is $115).
This effort to increase adoptions seems to be working, but there are still 20 dogs and 8 cats available for adoption at last count. And more animals arrive at the shelter every day.
If you’re one of the many students who wants to adopt a pet — and are ready to take care of it — now is the time.
