Adoption Pact

Dear Maddie’s Fund Employees and Board Members,

Thank you for thinking of my old home town. Rural areas are problematic, not that Buffalo is rural but I grew up in Erie and Chautauqua counties and both could use assistance. Education is always the key, and this comes from a shelter volunteer and long-term volunteer at San Diego’s Feral Cat Coalition clinics (I ran volunteers at Recovery for years).

I wanted to thank you and HSUS and the Ad Council for the Shelter program. Some of the greatest joys of my life have come from rescues or shelters. My first cat, Nathan, was a “gift” from my sister, transported across the country. He was a Burmese mix and a talker (I never got in the last word in an argument) and was with me 13 years. When my parents’ dog died I started volunteering at a shelter and met my first dog there, abused her first year by a law enforcement official and in the shelter her entire second year where I visited her every week even when I was in a neck brace and couldn’t walk dogs. I heard from a staffer/former volunteer that there was a meeting about euthanizing her and the decision was put off for a week. I had her home the next day. I challenged her to trust me and gave her unconditional love and she was with me for ten years before I held her as she bled out and was humanely put down.

My kitten, adopted at nine weeks from the same shelter, was named Mick Dundee because he was fearless. He lived with me seven years before I gave him to neighbors whose dog he loved (all dogs came to visit us and they played on the lawn) as my husband is allergic and now Mickey is gone.

We adopted an Aussie/Border Collie pup over five years ago from another shelter. Zoe (Greek for “life”) is with us today in Utah. We’re really glad we got her because she would have been euthanized if the shelter or most owners learned at five months of age she had the worst hip dysplasia her surgeon has ever seen. Two FHNO’s later, she’s grown her own hips and is a bit clumsy but the happiest animal I’ve ever met. We tell people they can spend $1,200 on a purebred or $75 on a mutt and the rest on surgery! We love her dearly.

So, will we get a shelter pet next time? You bet. Kudos to the Duffields, Mr. Avanzino and staff for a great and noble venture. I interviewed your legal staff when you were at SFSPCA and was so impressed…..

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I changed the photo due to a technical glitch. Maddie’s Fund is in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS.org) and the Ad Council to encourage folks to adopt their next pet from a shelter. I’m signing it and hope you’ll consider doing so as well. Too many adoptable and treatable animals are euthanized each year simply for lack of a good home and because owners didn’t spay/neuter their pets. Let’s try to do our best to end this cycle. Thanks much, Dee

Cheers! Dee