We often take for granted the role animals play in our lives. Every waking moment, whether we see it or not, has been altered somehow by an animal.
Many of us have pets, but we are ignorant of how our pets impact us. Our pets offer a sense of comfort in stressful environments, as well as a sense of purpose to care for them. Additionally, interacting with animals can lower stress hormones like cortisol and blood pressure, according to UC Davis Health. With all the ways animals benefit us, it leads me to wonder, how do we benefit animals? What else can we do to improve these animals’ lives the same way they do for us?
Animal shelters are the perfect way to get involved. Regardless of the level of involvement, anything you can do is always helpful for these animals. Shelters are often filled with animals who haven’t gotten the chance to experience a loving home. Anything you can do that allows these animals to experience love is a fulfilling experience for all. Pets give humans the privilege of unconditional love. Therefore, the least we could do is show them the same.
If you are looking to make an impact, Orphans of the Storm in Deerfield is where you should look. At Orphans of the Storm, staff members and volunteers get to know each individual animal in order to find them their perfect match.
“We provide them loving homes and find homes that are the best match,” a staff member said.
However, some animals struggle to get adopted because of harmful stereotypes imposed upon them; pit bulls, for instance. Most of the dogs held at Orphans of the Storm are mixed with many different breeds, but the dogs that struggle to get adopted the most are mixed pit bulls.
“Pit bulls are stereotyped as an aggressive breed, even though there are no genetic indicators that prove them to be aggressive. Unfortunately, pit bulls are treated poorly,” a staff member said.
Simply put, pit bulls are seen as an aggressive breed because they are treated as aggressive dogs. The work done at Orphans of the Storm is so important because they break these stereotypes to show people that these pit bulls and other misjudged animals are deserving of a loving family too. They just need a home that supports them.
Additionally, another reason some animals struggle to get adopted is because of age. The pet who has stayed at Orphans of the Storm the longest is a ten-year-old cat named squish mallow. Seniors are harder to adopt because they often tend to have medical issues that many people don’t want to take on. Moreover, people don’t want to adopt old pets because they want more time with their pet. Even with the potentially short time they have left, these animals still deserve to experience a loving home.
While adoption is the ideal way to help, it isn’t necessary to make an impact. Fostering is a great option for people who are unable to make a lifelong commitment to taking care of an animal. Fostering is less financially taxing for all parties involved. Some animals may not be ready for a permanent home yet, which is why fostering is the perfect solution. It allows animals to find what their perfect match is while giving them a loving home in the meantime.
Whether it be through adoption, fostering, or donation, anything that you can do to help these animals the same way they have helped us is a positive force in our community.
