Writer Feature: Why I Support Adoption
Editor’s Note: Please welcome our newest intern to our writer roster, Clayton Stoneking!
The first time I connected with an animal was last year. I adopted two rats from a local small animal rescue and— I had a cage that I hid in the closet of my college dorm because pets weren’t allowed. Their names were Nora and Miss Kisses (I call her that because she licks anyone who gets close enough). Not everyone thinks of rats as pets, but they have helped me through some tough times. When I would come home after a particularly rough day they would jump up onto the walls of the cage and greet me by loudly grinding their teeth (a sign of contentment in rats). I loved having animals to play with after a grueling day and my love for animals, especially rats, has grown with each passing day.
Naturally, since last year my small cage has upgraded (thankfully so has my living situation). Soon after adopting my first two rats, I wanted more. Within a few days I had Winnie and Abbey. With four of them the cage was full, but I wanted more rats so I needed an upgrade. Luckily, the owner of the shelter where I was getting my rats saw how much I
loved them and offered me an old cage that she didn’t use anymore. I took the offer, and a couple more rats: Alice, the mother, and her two babies, Gladys and Ophelia. Unfortunately, Abbey was taken very suddenly by illness shortly after I adopted the babies and my count dropped down to 6. Before long I was drawn back to the shelter where I adopted 3 more rats, Greta, Astrid, and Beatrice. That was going to be the end of it but, about a week ago I was told that my close friend was going to have to give her foster rats back to the shelter. I didn’t have the heart to send them away when I had just enough space in my cage. Now, with the newest additions, May, Carmella, and Roxanne, our cozy little cage sits at 12 and for now I think that is enough.
Going from no pets to twelve in a year was a bit of a whirlwind, I didn’t have a lot of animals growing up and the ones I did have I never became close with. It wasn’t until last year when life was getting me down that I realized how much an animal can help. Just being able to pick up my rats and hold them made me feel more grounded. They are a constant source of calm in times of turmoil. Knowing that there is a literal cage full of tiny puff balls waiting for me every time I come home is one of the most comforting feelings I have ever had I would have never known that happiness if I didn’t step outside of what I knew; I didn’t know you could keep rats as pets let alone that you could get them from a shelter. Now I own twelve shelter rats that are loving, affectionate, and bursting with personality.
So when it comes down to the big question of: “why do I support adoption?” I just think of all the rats that I couldn’t adopt. I think of all the happiness they can bring and all the people who need it. I choose to adopt because these animals deserve a home as much as I deserve the unconditional love they give me. So, if you’re thinking about going out to the pet store for a gift this season, remember that in the animal’s eyes, a home is the greatest gift of all.