As I gaze down at my two happy girls, I'm so glad that Madi got a second chance and that we were the ones to be able to give it to her.
The Young-Williams Animal Center located in Knoxville, Tennessee is an "unlimited intake facility" according to Humane Educator, Taylor Slemmer. What this means is that no animal is turned away, be it dog, cat, guinea pig, horse, bird or rabbit.
When I arrived at the Center, I was a woman on a mission.
I knew that at some point in the not-too-distant-future I was going to be getting a Yorkshire Terrier. It was merely a matter of when and finding the right "small" dog accessories to match my photo gear, a la Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua (though hopefully I would be able to carry it off with more panache and a wider range of facial expressions). Madi, however, is no Yorkie. In fact, the only thing I'm sure of is that fact that she is a dog! The most adorable, beautiful, sweet-tempered, astonishingly smart, even-natured...... Ahem. Sorry. My mind wandered there for a moment!
At any rate, I knew that I was getting a very small dog; something that would fit in a small bag. So imagine how my spirits kept sinking lower and lower as I walked past yet another cage in the Center to discover yet another medium to large-sized dog. "We really don't get that many small dogs," said Annette, a volunteer at YWAS. "Families seem to be able to accommodate the little ones much more easily than they can the bigger dogs. Or else they just aren't as intimidated by them." The folks at YWAS should be glad to have Annette on staff. She got me out of my doldrums by introducing me to Madi. "You've just got to meet her. She's totally laid back." Sounded great to me!
Laid back is not quite the word I'd use to describe Madi. Timid would be a better descriptor, or maybe even terrified. At any rate, my heart melted when she very shyly licked my hand. I hunkered down on the floor with her, we gazed into each other's eyes, and all will power was lost when we touched noses. I looked up at Annette and said, "Looks like she's picked me."
After filling out what seemed like 47 documents in triplicate, I paid the incredibly reasonable adoption fee. I say this because, for 120USD, Madi got spayed, microchipped and tattooed with an identification number, which can be used to track me down in case we become inadvertently separated. The next day after undergoing an orientation and education session, it was time to take her home.
To say that Madi loves car rides is an understatement. She is learning how to play and potty training is a work in progress. The folks at YWAS didn't stop caring the minute Madi walked out the door. They've been in touch every step of the way. Madi has been exhibiting some fairly serious separation anxiety symptoms which are now nearly resolved thanks to the helpful hints and tips that I was provided when at my wits' end.
Gazing down at Madi and my daughter curled up together at my feet, content after a day at play, I know that Madi made the right choice in picking me that day. And that I made the right choice in adopting her from an uncertain future.
Last year roughly 75% of the animals taken in by the YWAS were euthanized. This is a statistic that is, unfortunately, on the rise as more and more animals are being surrendered by their owners while the number of adopted animals remains roughly consistent. This is also a statistic that can be decreased if owners have their pets spayed or neutered.
While "no kill" shelters certainly sound more humane, they will typically only accept those animals that they are confident are adoptable. Those animals that are too sick or with behavior problems too great to be placed with "forever homes" typically end up in a variety of sad situations: abandoned on the streets to fend for themselves; in abusive or neglectful situations; or even killed by inhumane means.
According to YWAS, "Because of the enormous overpopulation of dogs and cats..., it is sometimes necessary to euthanize animals that cannot be placed. It is the policy of the Young - Williams Animal Center to use the best available humane method of euthanasia, performed under the best possible conditions by Tennessee state certified euthanasia technicians. However, as long as an animal remains in good health and of good disposition, and the Center has room for the animal, the Animal Center will house the animal indefinitely."
What can you do to help?
* Have your pets spayed or neutered.
* Donate to your local pet shelter in volunteer hours, money or needed items such as blankets, pet food, or toys.
* Adopt an animal from a shelter such as YWAS and know that your adoption fee is going to a good cause.
* If you live in the the United States, contact the Humane Society of the United States or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
* If you live in Canada, contact the Humane Society of Canada or the SPCA chapter in your province.
* If you live outside the United States or Canada, contact the Humane Society International (HSI), the SPCA International, or your local animal rescue agency.