The pets pictured here are the furry creatures that have brightened my life over the years, as I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know them as my foster pets and shared my home with them and prepared them for their forever homes through the help of a pet behaviorist.   These guys are the lucky ones because they have found happy homes, thanks to a lot of love and hard work by the support of animal rescue groups, the network of pet foster parents, and the cooperation of the animal shelters.

Unfortunately the sweet pets pictured below are just a small fraction of the homeless animals that have been in shelters and are currently in shelters, and many don’t have a very big chance of ever making it out, due to no fault of their own.  The possibility of changing the reality of pet overpopulation lies with you, and in all of us and the decisions we make.  The next time you are considering bringing a pet into your home, I hope the pictures here inspire you to consider adoption. Above all else, please do your part to control pet overpopulation by spaying and neutering your pets.

For resources about adoption and low-cost spay and neuter near you, please contact me at peggy AT peggyryan DOT com.  For San Diego based pet adoption, please contact Shelter Pet Partners.