On Monday, I adopted my new furry friend from Foothills Humane Society, a two-year-old bloodhound mix named Whiskey. I saw a post on Facebook where Foothills was doing a promotion to help with their overpopulation problem. Every adoption of an adult animal, dog or cat, is “name your price” with a minimum of $5. 

Once I saw the promotion, I immediately scanned the website for all adoptable dogs and found all of them adorable. Although I could have adopted all of them, I read each dog’s description to find a couple that would fit into my busy lifestyle.

I wanted a dog that could easily go hiking or even running with me, go to the barn with me during the day, but then be able to relax with me at night. Through lots of thought and research on the different breeds, I narrowed down my options to a few dogs. I filled out my application late Saturday and waited impatiently to call Foothills to see if it had been approved on Monday. 

Foothills opens at 11 a.m., and right after I got out of my second block class, I called at 11:15. My application was approved, and I let them know that I would be there before they closed at five. Once I got off work, I headed there and went to find my new best friend. 

Every dog there looked well taken care of and very healthy, but each dog had the longing look for a new home. Perfect dogs and cats stuck in a shelter.

Once I got to Whiskey, I immediately fell in love. He was one on my list that I was interested in, and once I saw him, I knew he was the one for me. The adoption process was super easy and I walked away feeling so great that I rescued a dog and gave him a good home. 

Foothills Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, but others are not. The main reason to adopt a dog is to save a life. All dogs in a shelter are deserving of a loving home. Most dogs and cats there have been saved as strays or abandoned by their old owner. 

Adopting them and giving them a loving home will give them the second chance they deserve. Yes, there are puppies at the shelter, but most of these dogs and cats are adults. This means that most are house-trained and even know simple things such as “sit” or “stay”. People avoid the puppy or kitty stage and don’t have to worry about accidents in the house. These animals come spayed/neutered and with all their vaccinations. What more could you ask for? 

Go adopt a shelter pet and encourage others to do the same. Knowing that I was the reason that Whiskey got a second chance is so heartwarming. Foothills is still doing this promotion through Oct. 31 and will always have a great selection of a future pet. 

Remember, second-hand animals make first-class pets.