One of the most rewarding aspects of adopting a pet from a shelter is the simple fact that you’re saving a life and giving a deserving animal a new home. It feels great to help an animal in need, and after living in a shelter, your new pet will be especially appreciative of the wonderful life you’re going to give him. But that’s not all; your adoption fee will benefit other animals, too. By adopting a dog or a cat, you can support the shelter’s good work in your community and help care for many homeless pets.
Many pets end up in shelters because of circumstances beyond their control. They were victims of a death in the family, illness, divorce or a move that didn’t include them. Others were replaced by a new baby or had pet parents who didn’t learn how to train them. And there are those who were left at a shelter because of a behaviour problem that their pet parents didn’t try to or weren’t able to resolve.
But make no mistake; a “second-hand” pet is in no way second-rate. Most animals available for adoption are healthy, affectionate animals. Any animal, young or old, mixed breed or purebred will likely need some training or retraining to learn how to fit into his new household and become your cherished companion. However, most shelters evaluate an animal’s behaviour when he arrives, and this information can help you determine what kind of training your new pet needs. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers and staff, many shelters can even give dogs a head start on housetraining and basic obedience before they’re adopted.
Another advantage to adopting is that shelter animals are a real bargain! An adoption fee is much lower than the cost of buying a dog from a pet store or breeder. Most shelter animals are spayed or neutered before adoption, so you won’t have to pay for the cost of surgery. Almost all shelters give their animals thorough physical exams and provide vaccinations. Some shelters even microchip their animals so that if they get lost, they can find their way home to their new pet parents.
Pet Sanctuaries in Malta.
Animal sanctuaries in Malta are facilities in which animals live and are protected for the rest of their lives or until a new family adopts them. On the Maltese Islands there are several sanctuaries that shelter and care for these animals. Interested in adopting? Check out the links below:
