Think twice before you buy a pet because there is another option: adopt an animal and give it a new home.
Think twice before you buy a pet because there is another option: adopt an animal and give it a new home.
Oliver Rassat takes his dog for a pet reunion. Photo:Globaltimes
At a recent adoption event held by People for Pets (P4P), eight dogs and cats saved from the streets found new homes.
Pictures of each pet waiting to be adopted were shown on a billboard, including their name, gender, age and health condition. Some dogs were brought to the site by volunteers and fosters. Also joining the occasion were previously adopted animals who came with their new owners for a reunion.
Pictures of pets to be adopted are shown on a billboard at the adoption event. Photo:Globaltimes
Adoption day events like this are held on a regular basis by P4P to help stray animals find new homes. People for Pets is a nonprofit group of experienced rescuers working to bridge crucial gaps in animal welfare and protection in China, with focuses on the quality of life of every animal and the well-being and dignity of all. Currently there are 14 committed members and many supporters of P4P; 60 percent are foreigners and 40 percent are locals.
Every dog saved by the group has a sad past. Most of them were found on the streets either abandoned by their previous owners or born into street life. After being found by P4P members they are taken to experienced vets to receive treatment for wounds and mental issues that are caused from abuse or harsh outdoor conditions.
Then they will be transferred to foster homes for further recovery while waiting for a new home. Sometimes P4P also manages to send animals abroad, especially larger dogs which cannot be legally registered in the city and dogs that need special care for recovery.
Photo:Globaltimes
Kittens and puppies go fast, but for others it may take a longer time to adopt depending on the kinds of experience they have gone through, Molly, a member of P4P, told the Global Times. She said that some animals heal and learn to love quickly but others take months, even years, to recover.
Waiting for a home
Photo:P4P
To re-socialize adopted animals, Stephane Le Caignec, a professional cat sitter and cat behavior consultant in Shanghai who also attended the adoption event, suggested adopters take their time and be patient teaching animals to become accustomed to a new environment.
Taking cats as an example, he said people need to teach them how it feels to be a pet. “Not many cats like to be touched. You can be bitten by your own cat. Let your cat first meow you before you do anything. If you don’t train him to be touched, he will not accept being picked up,” Le Caignec said.
Photo:P4P
Oliver Rassat adopted a dog from P4P one and a half years ago. This time he brought his furry companion back for the reunion. Living in Shanghai for 20 years, Rassat has seen many stray cats and dogs on the streets, much more cats than dogs.
In 2015, P4P approached him and asked if he could keep a 3-year-old female dog for two weeks. Thinking that it would only stay for a short time, he agreed to take the dog in.
Photo:P4P
The dog’s file from P4P said she simply wandered into an apartment community in Pudong before being picked up by some kind guards and send it to P4P. She was then de-wormed, de-fleaed, vaccinated and neutered.
“The first day the dog came she was very scared and hid under the bed all the time. Then she got used to us. After two weeks we wanted to keep her,” Rassat said, adding that within those two weeks he and his wife had fallen in love about the dog. “She was so independent and of moderate temperament,” he said.
After one year, she can now answer their call and understand instructions both in Chinese and French. This summer, Rassat plans to take her to Europe.
Photo:P4P
There are many others like Rassat who have met their pets through P4P. Since being founded, P4P has saved over 100 street dogs and cats and helped more than two-thirds of them find a new home.
“Please do not buy an animal (at a pet store). Just think, there are so many of them waiting for a home. Most of them just need love and someone to take care of them,” said Mrs Molly.
“If you can’t adopt, you can foster. You can also help us spread the word. If you can re-post this article on WeChat, you will change somebody’s life!”
For more information please follow their WeChat: people4pets.
