I Used to Shop, Now I Want to Adopt

Editor’s Note: Please help me in welcoming our newest intern, Gabrielle Davis!

From the time I was a child, I have always loved animals and have always had them in my life. When I was two (and before my mom realized I was allergic to cats) I had a cat named Buster. I don’t really remember Buster but I have this picture of a young me pushing him around in a child’s shopping cart surrounded by faux groceries, both of us looking as pleased as could be. My mom said it was his favorite thing to do. Unfortunately, when she discovered that I was allergic, we had to get rid of him.

When I was eight, I got my first dog, a sweet, loving, playful black Lab pup I named Midnight. I’d never had a dog before but I loved having a four legged friend to play with. In October 2012, I had to make the difficult and painful decision to put her to sleep. She had been suffering over a year from cancer and was living life on pain pills. Her lung collapsed in such a way that the only way, though not guaranteed, to fix it was to take her to Purdue and have surgery. I knew because she was twelve and a half I couldn’t put her through that, so I made the only humane decision that I could which was to let her go and not make her suffer. It broke my heart and I didn’t think I could ever have another dog after that. I had her for twelve and a half years so it was like losing a part of myself, losing a member of the family. People couldn’t understand the grief I was feeling, some saying “It was just a dog. It’s not like it was a person.” When you were one of those kids considered ‘unpopular’ by the popular crowd, sometimes that four legged friend was your only best friend in the world and your protector.

Eventually though, as the months went by, I began to miss the soft pattering of feet behind me wherever I walked and the cold wet nose being shoved into my leg or face or ear, as well as the silent ear I could tell all my secrets to and not be judged, the soft fur to cry on when I needed to after a bad day. In 2013, I got another sweet, loving, playful black Lab pup I named Mason and in 2014, my mom and I brought home his half-sister, a chocolate lab I named Coco (Coco Chanel to be exact). They are sweet and loving and each has their own distinct personality. Mason is almost three but has the air of an old soul about him, he’s so mellow at times. Coco is two and a half but she reminds me of one of those windup toys, she has so much energy. I tell people that if you looked up the definition of a chocolate lab, they would see Coco’s picture. She’s your typical chocolate lab.

All the dogs I have had so far have been amazing, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. They are part of the family. I think it’s important, especially for children, growing up to have an animal (or four) in their lives at some point. Animals help build connections and teach us compassion and how to be better individuals. They also teach us unconditional love and sometimes fill that hole in hearts that are not completely whole. My only recommendation? Adopt, don’t shop. All three of my dogs my mom and I bought at through a breeder, both respectable and AKC registered, after months of research. My mom and I met both parents, and in Mason and Coco’s situation, the grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins. While I loved Midnight and I love Mason and Coco unconditionally, I’ve realized that my next dog will be one adopted from a shelter.

Shelter animals need just as much love, if not more. They have stories to tell, lessons to teach us, and often have the most loving hearts because they are so grateful to have a home and humans that care about them. It always breaks my heart to see the ASPCA commercials and I feel guilty for having gotten dogs from a breeder when I know that each year, millions of dogs and cats (and other furry friends) are euthanized each year because of overcrowding and not enough space. Some are euthanized because of the deformities or behavioral issues, or because they are a certain color. Some are family pets that have been left behind because of economic struggle or simply because they were too old and their owners didn’t want to deal with them.

Once I get a place of my own with enough land to fence in, not only will I be bringing Mason and Coco with me (I could never leave them behind), but I also look forward to being able to adopt a few new furry friends!