In honor of National Dog Day being celebrated tomorrow and many families always searching for their newest addition, we thought it was the perfect time to share this Team OSB success story with pet adoption. In this edition of Beyond The Cupola, Joelle Yarbrough, Operations Specialist / ACH & Wires, shares her personal journey with pet adoption.

We are on the tail end of the “dog days of summer”. This term refers to the hot, humid weather in our region of the country, but being a dog lover, I can’t help thinking of our four-legged friends which recently led to my decision to adopt our newest family member.

I couldn’t have picked a worse time to adopt – a week before my children returned to school. Getting a puppy is like having a newborn baby. They cry and need to relieve themselves at all hours of the night, but it is totally rewarding once they are trained. I already have a new best friend who shadows me all over the house.

Our new puppy, Brie, is a hound mix that we adopted from a rescue organization out of South Carolina. We have been following this group for several months after seeing some friends of ours adopt their puppy from them. People that own and operate rescue groups have hearts of pure gold and I don’t know how they bear some of the unimaginable situations they observe.

Four years ago, we adopted our older dog, Finley, from the Oconee County Animal Shelter where he had been rescued from a horrific environment in a puppy mill that was most likely breeding him and others as bait dogs. We knew he was “ours” at first sight and it didn’t take long for him to adapt to our family.

I tell you about my furbabies and their stories to support the “adopt, don’t shop” effort and here is why: Adopting allows you the opportunity to become a lifesaver. Millions of animals at shelters are euthanized every year because there was no one willing to adopt them. You also avoid supporting backyard breeders who keep animals in appalling conditions. You give animals the second chance at a life they deserve. Adopting also creates an opening for another homeless animal to be welcomed in. You can help reduce overpopulation. To quote Bob Barker, “Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered”.

I will tell you that rescued is my favorite breed of dog or any animal, but if you are someone that just really desires a purebred companion, you can find those at shelters and rescues, as well. Plus, who doesn’t love a deal? Adopting is much more cost efficient and many times you save on vet bills because initial shots, medications, and surgeries are included in the adoption fee.

Animals are just like humans, all they really want is love. How does the saying go…? A pet might only be a small part of your world, but to them you are the whole world. Please consider visiting your local shelter or rescue organization the next time you want to add a loving four-legged member to your family. I’m sure glad that we did.

Visit the Canine Journal to learn more!