Animals live each day as a new day and we are not without hope that each one will eventually leave us when that right match comes along…
PAWS TO PONDER by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know every day is just another day to animals?
They do not name certain days as holidays or weeks as recognition weeks or party on New Year’s Eve.
Animals live each day as a new day, already forgetting about yesterday and certainly no worries about tomorrow.
They live in their moments of routine. They stretch when they wake up. Expect their breakfast and dinner on time. They know when they “gotta go” and play or rest as needed. Of course those lucky pets living in a home get to enjoy cuddles, TV and the love and comforts of a family, even a family of one.
While shelter pets rely on the routine of a clean cage and timely meals, with cuddles from staff and volunteers, there is no TV and although they have the love of staff, shelter life is not as comfortable as a responsible home. For some, though, the shelter is the best home they have ever had which is sad unto itself. Those pets that were rescued from hoarding situations this past year which currently includes 4 dogs, 5 cats, 1 rabbit and 4 roosters, are at the very least in a clean environment with proper daily and veterinary care and kindness.
The unclaimed strays and surrendered pets may not understand how they ended up at the shelter, but are safe and cared for until new homes are found for them. Despite the sad commercials about how sad the animals are, the reality is that the shelter is their reality and they adjust. Whether scared, scarred or skinny, given time and routine, animals get used to their new surroundings. Only we humans know that a shelter environment is not ideal which is why we hope and pray that each one will one day find a family to bring them home.
It’s been said that shelters do not make adopting easy. Just how hard is it to complete an adoption application?
Is it not important to place shelter animals in homes that can and are willing to care for them for the rest of their lives? Once in shelter care these animals become the staffs’ day pets which mean we care not only for them but about them too. The time spent cleaning, medicating, feeding and socializing all the while getting to know them makes us want the best for them, which is not staying in the shelter.
It causes heartache knowing that Rufus, the ridiculous Pitbull is going into his third year in the kennel, Ruby the cat who has been in and out shelter (not her fault) repeatedly over the past several years and Keesha, the blind kitten now adult cat who has grown up in the shelter. These are but a few of our long timers.
Yet we are not without hope that each one will eventually leave us when that right match comes along.
As 2025 draws to a close, we look to a new year of increased adoptions, less surrenders and unclaimed pets and wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy & Hopeful 2026!
