Adopting a pet saves two lives

We got a dog! After a month’s worth of weekends visiting the local shelters and a pretty intense stalking of their Facebook pages, I succeeded in finding a pup that our family could fall in love with. Well, that might be strong. I certainly fell in love. Everyone else is at least pleased.

We call him Romey. My husband, who has always wanted to name someone or something “Prometheus,” finally got the chance. If you’re laughing right now, that’s exactly why we use Romey as a mandatory nickname. He’s a 10-week-old Schnauzer mix and he and his three siblings were each adopted pretty quickly from Animal Ark Rescue, a local no-kill shelter.

Having a new puppy is something like having a baby. The accidents on the carpet. The whining at bedtime unless someone is nearby. The chewing on everything, especially things that aren’t meant to be chewed on. And of course the sweet, joyful, goofy moments peppered throughout each day.

Romey is clearly a little brother. He sees big sister as an idol and wants to follow her from room to room. He sees dad as a person to snuggle beside when sports are on TV. He sees mom as someone who will lay down the law and moments later give cuddles and kisses. He’s quickly found his role in the family dynamic.

There are various benefits to having a dog. For one thing, they make you less stressed. Studies show dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than non-pet-owners and tend to have lower heart rates and blood pressure. The act of petting your dog increases the amount of oxytocin in the brain, which calms the mind and body and makes you “feel good.” There are even scientific studies that back up common anecdotes about dogs being able to sniff out cancer in their owners’ bodies. So, I guess our family just got a health boost along with a puppy.

There’s another benefit to having Romey: his absence makes room at the Animal Ark for another cat or dog that needs a home. Because they do not euthanize, there is a limit to how many animals they can hold. The only way that a new animal can be accepted is if an existing rescue is adopted.

Following PAWS Humane and AAR on Facebook is a great way to stay up to date with the animals at the shelters and whether there are any adoption specials. The adoption fee is already a steal, considering animals are up to date on shots and spayed/neutered when you take them home.

If your family is on the fence about making the commitment to adopt, consider fostering. Earlier this summer, we fostered a kitten for a few weeks until it became old enough to go back to the shelter and get adopted. It was a great way to introduce my children to the idea of having a pet, while helping a sweet kitten in need.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Adopting a pet saves two lives."