SHELTER ME airs on KLCS Los Angeles Sunday May 27 at 9pm; check the PBS.org site for airtime in your area. I spoke to Carol Leifer, actress/comedienne/writer/animal lover & activist about her dedication to animals and her personal experience with shelter dogs.
Click to www.shelterme.com for more info about this wonderful organization.
TSR: What’s the most important thing potential pet parents should know about shelter dogs?
Leifer: A SHELTER DOG IS THE BEST CHOICE ANY POTENTIAL PET PARENT CAN MAKE. IT’S A WIN/WIN IN ALL WAYS. ANY TYPE OF PUPPY OR DOG PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR CAN BE FOUND AT THEIR LOCAL SHELTER/RESCUES. AND BY ADOPTING, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, YOU SAVE A LIFE. MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT TODAY MOST OF THE DOGS AT SHELTERS ARE EUTHANIZED BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME OVERCROWDING. WITH THE ECONOMY AS IT IS, PEOPLE ARE TURNING IN THEIR DOGS BECAUSE OF FORECLOSURES OR THEIR CURRENT FINANCES. IT’S SUCH A SHAME. THE DOGS SUFFER FOR A CRIME THEY DID NOT COMMIT.
I URGE PEOPLE MOST OF ALL NOT TO BUY PUPPIES FROM PET STORES OR FROM THE INTERNET. 99% OF THE PUPPIES AT PET STORES & ON THE INTERNET ARE FROM PUPPY MILLS. AND THAT’S NOT MY OPINION, THAT’S A STONE COLD FACT FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THESE PET STORE OWNERS LIE AND SAY, “OH, THIS PUPPY IS FROM A LOCAL, REPUTABLE BREEDER,” WITHOUT ANY FORM OF REGULATION.
I ADMIT I’M A BIT BIASED. I DON’T FEEL THERE’S ANY NEED TO BUY A DOG WHEN THERE ARE HEALTHY, LOVING ONES AT OUR SHELTERS JUST WAITING FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES. AND TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ADOPT WHO HAVE CHILDREN, YOU SHOW YOUR KIDS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL THE TRUE MEANING OF “COMPASSION.”
MOST SHELTER DOGS ARE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH. WITH A GOOD BATH AND HAIRCUT, THEY BECOME THE LOOKERS THEY WERE DESTINED TO BE. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE ARE OUT IN THE STREET WITH OUR DOGS AND PEOPLE STOP AND SAY, “OH! THAT DOG IS SO CUTE, I WANT THAT ONE! WHERE’D YOU GET HIM?” WE’RE SO PROUD TO ANSWER, “AT THE BACK OF THE SHELTER!”
TSR: What’s been the best thing in your personal experience about adopting shelter dogs?
Leifer: TO SAY THAT ADOPTING THE DOGS AND CATS WE HAVE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ADOPTED PETS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SECOND CHANCE THEY’VE BEEN GIVEN – ANY PERSON WHO’S ADOPTED ANIMALS WILL CONFIRM THAT. THEY ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE NEW LIFE YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM. IT’S TRULY A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE – TO TAKE AN ANIMAL WHO WAS A STRAY OR EVEN DISCARDED, TO WATCH THEM BLOSSOM AND GROW IN A NEW LOVING ENVIRONMENT, IT’S NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.
BUT THAT’S THE GLORY OF SHELTER ANIMALS – THEY ARE SO RESILIENT. THEY CAN SHAKE OFF THEIR OLD LIFE AS IF IT WERE SOME BAD DREAM. HAPPINESS, JOY, AND TRUST ARE ALL POSSIBLE AGAIN WHEN ANIMALS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE UNIQUE GIFT OF MOVING FORWARD. WHAT A PITY SO MANY OF US TWO-LEGGERS CAN’T DO THE SAME, HUNG UP AND CHAINED TO OUR PASTS AS WE SO OFTEN ARE.
TSR: Do you have any tips for potential pet parents regarding shelter dog adoption?
Leifer: THE BEAUTY OF OUR SHELTERS IS THAT THEY HAVE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF MEMBERS WHO WILL PERSONALLY HELP YOU FIND THE DOG WHO’S THE BEST FIT FOR YOU. MANY HAVE BEHAVIORISTS ON STAFF WHO CAN BE OF SERVICE IN LISTENING TO YOUR PARTICULAR NEEDS – DO YOU HAVE KIDS? OTHER DOGS? DO YOU WANT A QUIET DOG OR MORE OF A WATCHDOG? THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE AND ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU.
TSR: Can you talk about the impact the SHELTER ME documentary had on you as you watched it?
Leifer: I WATCHED THIS DOCUMENTARY WITH MY PARTNER OF 15 YEARS, LORI, WHO IS THE PERSON WHO MADE ME AN ANIMAL LOVER AND WE GOT VERY EMOTIONAL SEVERAL TIMES WHILE WE WATCHED IT. SEE, I’D NEVER HAD A DOG OR CAT BEFORE WE MOVED IN TOGETHER 11 YEARS AGO WHEN LORI INTRODUCED ME TO HER DOG AND 2 CATS. (I DID IT KICKING AND SCREAMING, BTW). BUT IN SIX MONTHS, I WAS MUSH WITH THESE ANIMALS & I FEEL THEY’VE MADE ME A SOFTER, BETTER PERSON OVERALL.
ADOPTING THESE ANIMALS HAS CHANGED MY LIFE IN A PROFOUND WAY. THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THEY GIVE YOU AND HOW IT TOUCHES YOUR SOUL IS INDESCRIBABLE.
HERE’S A LITTLE STORY – LORI AND I ADOPT A LOT OF SENIOR DOGS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUNGER ONES. AND THEY’RE PRETTY MELLOW WHEN THEY’RE OLDER WHICH IS GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE A PACK LIKE WE ALREADY DO. BUT LET ME TELL YOU – WE ADOPTED A 15 YEAR-OLD CHIHUAHUA IN 2007 THE DAY BEFORE SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE EUTHANIZED, HER NAME IS CAGNEY. WE FIGURED WE COULD GIVE HER ONE OR TWO MORE GOOD YEARS. WELL, I’M HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS JULY, GOD WILLING, CAGNEY WILL TURN 20 YEARS OLD! AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF A SIMPLE THING – THE POWER OF LOVE.
ADOPT A SHELTER PET! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN WAYS THE SAGEST PROPHETS CAN’T EVEN DESCRIBE! THIS DOCUMENTARY IS A TESTAMENT TO THAT!
