Chattanooga Pulse

Almost two years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life. I had moved into my first house with a large fenced-in yard, and as I sat outside in my plastic Adirondack chair, I knew something was missing. I begged my parents to let me take the family golden retriever, but they refused to let him go. I knew then it was time for me to do something I had dreamed about since the first time I saw the pound scene in Lady and the Tramp:  adopting a dog.

I came home that day with a two-month-old puppy that has turned out to be one of the finest specimens of hound dogs in the South. People can never believe me when I tell them I got my seemingly purebred bluetick coonhound (the unofficial Tennessee state dog) at the Humane Society. Needless to say, my dog Banjo is my best friend.

Every year, 15,000 animals are delivered to the Chattanooga Humane Society. And they leave the shelter in one of three ways: They are returned to their owners, adopted, or euthanized. Less than two percent are sent to rescue groups.  The Humane Educational Society works hard to find safe and healthy homes, but no matter how hard they work, the truth is that there will always be animals in need. One new idea that will improve both the quality of life for the animals and adoption rates: the Chattanooga Humane Society is on a quest to go cageless. The animals will instead have pens of glass blocks with clear doors to let in light and still allow for viewing. There are also plans to have flushable drains and soothing music playing to create a cleaner and calmer environment.

While going to see all of these precious potential pets is always fun and somewhat heartbreaking, the most important thing to consider is if you are really ready for the commitment.

On a hot August day, I was riding with five people in my car, Banjo on the back-middle-person’s lap, and we were winding around a backroad. Music was blaring and the windows were down—all of a sudden there was a strong odor of dog food. I looked down and realized that there were regurgitated chunks of puppy chow all over my center console. Banjo had gotten sick all over my car, and it had been dripping steadily down the back of my seats for a good 30 seconds.

There would be many times when Banjo would randomly throw up: on my bed, the front porch, the bath mat. He would also come up to me and start peeing. I would shout, “What kind of warning was that?” while rushing him on to the front lawn. He claimed any free hour from work or school that I could find, and I was eager to attentively train him and provide for his every puppy need. Even though it was messy, inconvenient, and expensive, I knew it was what I signed up for.

Many animals are in the shelter because people chose to adopt them without having the means to care for them. The most important things to consider: Can you afford food and vet bills? Do you have time to devote to training and playing? Is there space for your pet in your home, and can you make a commitment for the length of your pet’s lifetime? Most importantly, can you love your pet unconditionally, the way they will love you? When adopting from the shelter, they will ensure that your pets are spayed or neutered. But if you adopt your pet elsewhere, make a decision for the good of your pet and their neighbors. Prevention is one of the best solutions to overpopulation.

So, if you’re ready for one of life’s greatest pleasures, if you have a little space to fill in your home and heart, head down to the Humane Society and meet your new best friend.

Chattanooga Humane Society
212 North Highland Park Avenue
(423) 624-5302
www.heschatt.com

Editor’s note: The Humane Society continues to do a wonderful job here in Chattanooga, but as residents know, it is now responsible only for animals in Hamilton County, outside of the city limits. Please also consider visiting the McKamey Center, 4500 N. Access Road, www.mckameyanimalcenter.org.

Victoria Hurst is a proud resident of the Appalachian Mountains. She has recently graduated from Warren Wilson College with a B.A. in Creative Writing.