ARF assists persons looking to ADOPT a companion animal by networking with other humane organizations and rescue groups. If you are considering SURRENDERING your pet, ARF provides counseling and literature on "What can we do to help you keep your pet?"
Click here for some excellent pages from Wonder Puppy! Canis Major is a wealth of information!
Click here to learn "Why dogs need rescue!"
Click here for some behavior blunders... and hopefully you will find some solutions to make you and your pet happy!

ADOPTING
It is a warm feeling when ARF volunteers help bring together prospective pet people and needy canines and felines in a caring, loving, home environment. This scheme allows for a win-win situation. Persons who find their best friend will be happier and healthier, and pets will have the opportunity to love unconditionally. There are so many pets in need - some are victims of divorce, moving and other excuses (see below). These are not second-class pets but pets needing a second chance at life! Please DON'T SHOP, ADOPT! There are millions of perfect pets out there waiting to love you!

SURRENDERING
If you can find NO alternative to keeping your pet click here for some excellent resources from Wonder Puppy! ARF will do its best to network and help the pet find a FOREVER home but simply put, there are not enough homes for all the pets who are surrendered. Spaying and neutering your pet will help reduce the surplus of unwanted cats and dogs, puppies and kittens!

How Long is a Life Time?
Are you really willing to commit? Most dogs and cats, with good care, can live to be 10 to 15 years old or older. Before you adopt a puppy or kitten, ask yourself these questions:

1.To get an idea how long a pet's lifetime may be, consider how old you will be 15 years from now.

2.How many times do you think you might move in the next 15 years? Are you willing to move the pet too, and restrict your choice of housing to places where pets are allowed?

3.What major changes might happen in your life in the next 15 years? Marriage? Children? Are you willing to continue spending the time, energy, and money to care for your pet when taking on new responsibilities like these? What will you do if your spouse or children can't get along with the pet?

4.If you're getting a pet for children you have now, how old will they be in 15 years? Will you still want this pet after the kids have grown up and moved out?

5.Have you previously owned a pet that didn't live with you for 10 years or more? If so, what happened to it? What will you do differently with this pet to prevent it from going the way your previous pet did?

Provided by:
The American Humane Association
63 Inverness Drive East
Englewood, CO 80112-5117

Below is a list of actual excuses given to rescue people, rescue organizations and some to ARF volunteers. ARF believes pets are for life! Pets are not disposable! Guardians need to be responsible! Spaying and neutering one's pet would drastically reduce the number of unwanted pets! They all deserve a place to call home and a family to love them! Sharing our lives a pet is a lifetime commitment and when people don't make this commitment, it is the pet that suffers. Thousands of healthy kittens, puppies, dogs and cats are killed every year right here in Wayne County. There is no excuse for this but there are a few solutions... spay and neuter your pet and care for your pet for their ENTIRE LIFE! If you can't devote the time and love necessary to care for a pet then please don't get one!

Dogs
we're having a baby
we're moving
eats too much
he gets water on the floor from drinking
he runs along the fence and now we can't get grass to grow
we aren't home much
my girlfriend loves dogs, but she hates this one
sleeps too much
she's gotten pregnant twice this year (i wonder if they ever thought to possibly spay her and be responsible?)
barks
he has fleas
cries at night (this was a dog that was locked in a storage room)
he was cute as a puppy, but now he's not
he chews (this was a 3 month old puppy cutting teeth)
she's pregnant
he sheds
won't stay off the furniture
my boyfriend hates dogs
he digs
don't have time to walk him
wants to sit in my husband's lap
demands too much attention
his barking is irritating
poops too much
we didn't know that it would cost so much to have a pet
chases cars
we got new carpeting
is now blind
growls at my mother
eats our neighbor's newspapers
his ears are too long
is a messy eater
we're going on vacation
neighbor doesn't like him
we bought our dream house

Cats
rubs up against my leg wanting attention
meows
we are allergic to him (after they had it for 6 years)
he's too fat
kids are scared of them
keeps getting into fights (unaltered male)
likes kittens but he is now a cat
has fleas
sheds
moving
has worms
i'm pregnant
scratches furniture
wife doesn't like
hisses
vomits
sprays in my garden (not neutered cat)
wants too much attention
messy litter box user
shreds drapes
can't afford
sleeps on my car
won't come when I call him
husband hates cats
going on vacation
sleeps too much
climbs the Christmas tree
doesn't like to go outside
vet bills are too high
doesn't like the new kitten we bought
getting old
we have a new puppy
thought it would be cheaper to have a cat
wants to sleep with us
wants too much attention
wants to sleep on the bed
doesn't match my new decorations! (and to think we thought we had heard everything)
not fun anymore (2 year old cat)
my girlfriend says she'll move out if I keep the cat

Thank you Clermont for sharing your excuses with rescue!

If you are looking to adopt a pet, visit Canis Major or Wonder Puppy to find excellent resources about adopting a DOG! We haven't forgotten about the felines! ARF is researching and compiling resources to help you with adopting a CAT!

THANK YOU CANIS MAJOR CREATIVE and WONDER PUPPY FOR YOUR "WONDER"FUL WEB SITES!