Carmine

Adopting shelter animals can be extremely rewarding. Not only is adopting a shelter animal a rewarding experience, but it also has several advantages. I have personally adopted shelter animals and it has always been a positive experience for me. However, little did I know that when I adopted Carmine, he would become my best friend.

One of the benefits to adopting a shelter animal is that you are giving the cat or dog a chance at having a forever home. Personally, I have adopted four cats from shelters. Many wonderful animals wind up homeless for many different reasons; their owners may have lost their home or moved and left the pet behind, the pet was not a good fit for the home, or the animals were abandoned by someone who could no longer care for them.

I adopted my most recent cat from the PetSmart Adoption Center, which houses homeless pets who are ready for adoption. I wanted a playmate for my cat, Milita, because I had to spend many hours between graduate school and my internship at the time. When I walked into the adoption center, I saw an orange kitten and I knew I had to have it! I got someone to take him out of the cage and he sat on my lap and purred. I filled out the adoption form and the next day I was able to take my orange kitten, Carmine, home with me.

Another advantage to adopting a shelter animal is that most shelters provide spay/neuter, vaccinations, and two weeks of veterinary care for the animal as part of the adoption fee. Some shelters even provide microchips for the animals as part of the adoption fee. For instance, when I adopted Carmine from the PetSmart Adoption Center, he was neutered, had his rabies vaccination, and received two weeks of vet care if he happened to get ill within the first two weeks of me taking him home.

Carmine's transition into the home was a little difficult, not for him, but for Milita, my gray Siamese/tabby mix. Milita seemed to really dislike Carmine and the fact that I'd brought him into the home. She wasn't interested in playing with him whereas all Carmine wanted to do was play with her. Milita also seemed to be mad that Carmine was now sleeping on the bed at night with me when it had previously been *her* spot.

It certainly took some time for Milita to get used to another cat in the house, but now both cats are happy. Milita has resumed her place on my pillow at night while Carmine has taken to sleeping by my side. The cats have even grown to love each other and are often found sleeping in the same room.

I have had Carmine for more than four years now. He has become my best friend and he's a wonderful cat. He stays near me when I don't feel well, tells me when it's time to wake up and go to sleep, greets me when I come home, and talks to me all the time. Like Carmine, the other cats I've adopted from animal shelters in the past, were also great cats; all of my adopting experiences have been positive.

If you are seriously thinking about getting a pet, I would highly recommend checking out the animal shelters near you. Give a pet a chance at a forever home by adopting from your local animal shelter.