We weren’t even looking to adopt a cat, but then I saw sweet Emma’s little face. My friend’s sister was working at one of our local shelters (the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA) and was fostering a litter of kittens. My friend was planning to adopt one of Emma’s littermates and showed me a photo that had Emma in it. I asked if we could meet her and the rest is history. We visited Emma and her littermates at the home where she was being fostered. She and her siblings climbed all over us and played, but then Emma got in my hubby’s hand, gave him a little nip, and then fell asleep. We agreed that as soon as she was ready to adopt, we would take her home.

When we went to pick her up at the shelter, I was amazed at how many pets were waiting for homes! There were dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, horses, and, farm animals. All of these animals were looking to be adopted. It was an impressive operation. You could search a website to learn about available animals and then come meet them to see if the fit was right. People just walking in could learn about the animals from the tags on their cages. We saw a lot of happy pets and new owners that day.

As soon as we brought Emma home she explored her new terrain and then got right back in my hubby’s lap and curled up for a nap. Since that day seven years ago she’s been our constant companion. She loves to play, sleep in sunny spots, and even helps with the MyUntangledLife blog (by supervising photo shoots, inspecting ingredients, and occasionally editing.) Over time she’s developed a habit of greeting us at the door when we come home from work. She waits to be picked up so she can rub her face on our faces. We can’t imagine our lives without her.

If you are looking for a pet, please consider a shelter pet. One great resource is The Shelter Pet Project, a collaboration between the The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund. This site will direct you to local shelters’ websites where you can search for available pets in your area. (You can learn more about the process in this video featuring adorable animals, “Shelter Pet Adoption, Explained by Lance Bass”.) Another option for people seeking to adopt a particular breed of dog, is to search for a local rescue group for that breed in your area. (For example, my mother has adopted several beagles through our local beagle rescue group, Beagles of New England States  or B.O.N.E.S.) For anyone searching for a pet, rescuing is a wonderful option. You save a life and then you enhance yours in more ways than you might have imagined.