Jasper Wirtshafter and his best friend Cecil that he adopted from BCHS

What is a best friend? Webster’s dictionary defines a best friend as a person’s closest and dearest friend. Many people have a person that fills the best friend role in their lives, but a large population of people consider their pet to be their best friend. Maybe you feel that way about your pet? If not, you likely know someone who considers their pet to be their best friend.

Pets are a very important part of many people’s life. Maybe you have been thinking about adopting a pet recently and are hoping to find a hiking buddy or a furry friend to snuggle on the couch with and watch a movie. There are a couple of things to take into consideration before you visit a shelter. Unfortunately, life at the shelter can be very stressful for many of the animals. So the dog or cat you see that seems hyper or withdrawn may not be the same animal outside of the shelter. Also, take into consideration what type of pet would be a good fit for you. We know how hard it is to see a cute puppy and not want to take it home that instant. But, that puppy quickly turns into a dog who wants to play and chew and needs lots of attention. So, if you don’t have the time to devote to training a puppy- or you value your shoes- probably best to go with a dog who is out of the puppy phase. Also, remember that just as you need a chance to adjust to a new family member, they need a chance to adjust to their new world as well. Give them time, some personal space if they need it, and lots of love.

While life at the shelter can be very stressful on the animals, it can also be on the employees and volunteers. Every day at the shelter is different and some days can be very emotional. Those rough days are all worthwhile when we get to see pets reunited with their people, animals that came from sad beginnings have happy endings, families that are completed with their new furry family member, and best friends being made. In fact, we are fortunate in that many of our adopters send us pictures or messages about the animal they have adopted through our shelter.

We love hearing updates from our adopters and want to hear any suggestions or feedback from our community. You can follow us on Facebook or on Instagram @bchumane for updates on the shelter and adoptable pets. We also have adoptable pets listed on Petfinder.com, on our website www.bchumane.org or please feel free to contact us by phone for any questions 812-988-7362.