Man’s best friend is one of the victims of the downturn in the economy. Many families have had to make the difficult decision to give up their beloved pet for adoption to an animal shelter or animal rescue because they can no longer afford them.
“We used to receive five percent to 10 percent from owner turn-ins,” said Mitch Jevic, the New Jersey coordinator for the Shih Tzus and Furbabies, a small breed dog rescue “Now we receive 20 percent to 30 percent from owner turn-ins.”
The Shih Tzus and Furbabies rescue is a national organization based out of Georgia that has affiliates up and down the East Coast. The rescue group adopts dogs out to people across the United States. The organization takes in dogs from owners that no longer can afford to take care of their pet, as well as from commercial breeders, shelters and other rescues.
The Shih Tzus and Furbabies rescue was just one of the many rescue groups at the Pet Expo held last weekend at the Piazza in Northern Liberties. The pet store Chic Petique and the pet-grooming salon Chez Bow Wow sponsored the expo. This was the first year for the event and they hope to do it again next year.
While the event offered dog owners a chance to pamper their pet with accessories and tasty treats, it also hoped to draw attention to the dogs currently at various rescues around the city. Second Time Around Rescue, Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Philadelphia Greyhound Connection and other similar groups were in attendance. The rescue groups had dogs in a variety of breeds, ages and sizes, which shows that a pet shop should not be the only place to stop at in the search for a new pet.
“Any event that helps rescue dogs is a good thing,” said Maria Plover, the owner of the petite pet fashions and accessories company Bow-wow WOW! Her business, along with over 30 other vendors, was at the Pet Expo. She even spruced up the rescue dogs that were at the event by giving them a bow to wear around their neck.
For more information or to learn how to adopt a dog from the Shih Tzus and Furbabies rescue group, the website is Shihtzuandfurbabyrescue.com. On the website there are pictures of some of the dogs available for adoption, including an application and a formula to match a dog with an applicant’s lifestyle.
very well done. think there should be more said about this problem of homeless animals. We buy or accept animals into our homes and then at least half are abandoned by us. We all our told what is to be expected of us when we become a pet owner, but spading our pet, why and how, is never discussed as part of this responsibility. This needs to be done. House pets all needs to be spade. If we don’t want strays in our streets, then we are responsible for not allowing it to happen. Spay your pets!
This is a lovely post, dog are destine to care and rescue people. I have experience this in my own lovely dog. Thank you for posting this kind of article.