'In crisis mode': CACC warns of pet drop-offs as daily line keeps getting longer

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

26. I am likewise distressed that people will buy

"pure bred" dogs from a breeder, often without knowing anything at all about the breeder, while dogs, including purebreds, languish in a shelter.

My older brother and his wife for many years did Irish Wolfhound rescue in the DC area. Over the years they rescued dozens of Wolfhounds. What a wonderful thing to do.

Me, I'm a cat person. I've had felines on and off my entire life. Early in the pandemic I realized I wouldn't be travelling as much as before, so I went to my local shelter and brought home a 17 year old cat, Fiona. The shelter vet all but tried to talk me out of the adoption. "She is on a special, expensive diet," said the vet. No problem. I'd been there with old cats before. "She's 17 years old. She might live two years, she might live two months. Are you okay with that?" Oh, yes. So I took her home and she was with me all of two and a half weeks. But I'm so glad I had her for that time, that she didn't spend those final two weeks in the shelter. And when I brought her back to be euthanized, they did not charge me for the euthanization, just the cremation.

I did go back a few weeks later, and brought home Tatiana, who is still with me, and probably about seven now.

About two years ago there was a knock on my door, and the couple from across the street were holding their cat Tony (orange tabby, of course)and said, "We're moving, and we can't have a cat in our new place. Would you please take him?" Of course! It helped that Tony had already been spending a lot of time with me, and he and Tatiana already got along.

Our four-legged furry friends are precious.