Q & A: Pet Adoption Expert Sue Della Maddalena

Can you tell us about PetSmart Charities and how it is helping to save the lives of homeless pets?

We are the largest funder of animal welfare in the country. We basically raise and distribute funds to save the lives of homeless pets. We have our own in-store adoption centers and events that we sponsor geared towards getting pets adopted and into homes. We also invest a significant amount of money into spay/neuter [programs] because we want to reduce the number of unwanted pets entering shelters. Since 2009, we’ve invested about $30 million into spay/neuter efforts around the country and we’ve probably been able to prevent the birth of about 7 million unwanted pets, so it’s a very important piece of the equation.

We also have an emergency relief program, so we’ve been pretty busy helping out New York and other areas that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. Our emergency relief program is designed to deliver supplies to the areas that have been hit by natural disasters, cruelty cases, hoarding and those types of things. We have trailers that we send out loaded with supplies, food, hard goods. We’ll deliver them onsite and then we have a team that will unload and build crates, getting them ready for a working partnership for other animal organizations that are on the ground during the disaster.

The reason what we do is so important is that about 8 million pets end up in shelters every year, and about half of them are euthanized. If you translate that into the number of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that are euthanized, it’s about 11,000 a day. It’s horrible. So, we clearly have a huge opportunity to continue to educate the public about homeless pets, as well as to encourage more people to consider adopting, because there are a lot of great dogs and cats in shelters. 

What would be a good first step for anyone who is interested in adopting a rescue pet?

We always recommend that you go and look at an adoptable pet locater. We have one on our website and you can go in and enter the criteria of the kind of pet you are looking for and see what’s available in your community. Then I think it’s important to really think about the following specific things so that you’re getting the right match for your family:

Space: Do you live in an apartment? Do you live in a small house? Do you have a big yard? Different breeds require different amounts of exercise and space.

Time: Decide whether or not you have the time to take care of the pet. Cats are often easier than dogs because they don’t require some of the things that dogs do, so consider that.

Children: Think about making sure that you know what the pet’s temperament is before you bring it home. When you look in shelters, you should ask whether the pet is good with children.

Resources: Do you have the resources to care for a pet? It is a commitment and we really recommend that when you take a pet in, you take it in for life.

When you adopt a pet, most shelters or rescue groups will offer vaccination and sterilization, and in some cases, microchipping and licenses. Rescue pets are actually an amazing value. You may pay upwards of $1,000 for a puppy from a store or ad that may come from questionable breeding and is going to have to incur all of those additional costs. Adoption fees for dogs and cats, depending on what part of the country you’re in, can be as little as $75.

Are there any other preparations that need to be made before adopting?

Just ask yourself what you’re looking for. Some people are interested in special needs animals. Some people want really active pets. Have a good understanding of what you are looking for, so that when you go into a shelter and look at the dogs and cats there and talk with an adoption counselor, you can get the best match possible. Because the worst thing is to go in and fall in love with a face and then realize that you wanted a couch potato and you’ve gotten a really active dog or cat that needs a lot of attention. 

What qualities contribute to a good living environment for a rescue pet?

I think it depends on the species. For cats, we certainly endorse keeping cats inside because it’s a much safer environment for them. You want to have adequate space for a cat, so it has room to move around the house and isn’t overly confined. I think for dogs, if it’s either a small or a large dog, we always encourage a fenced yard so that you don’t have to worry about the dog getting out and being harmed. Also, if you’re in an apartment or a smaller space, you want to look at the size of the dog and the needs that dog has for exercise. What’s kind of funny is that Greyhounds make great apartment dogs, because, if they came from the track — which a lot of the rescue Greyhounds do — they are used to living in a very, very small environment. So, they actually make great apartment pets. 

What kind of financial commitment should new pet owners expect to make?

You’re, of course, going to have the basic commitment of food. If it’s a dog, you’ll need a collar and leash. With cats, you’ll need a litter box and litter. So, there is an investment associated with having a pet. There’s a broad range of foods and products you can buy so that you can make sure that you’re able to do it within a budget that works for you.

You should plan on taking your pet to the vet at least once a year for an annual checkup. And they are going to periodically need shots based on what the requirement is for the timing of that particular shot. Again, if you’ve gotten them from a shelter or a rescue group, they’re probably going to be sterilized and they’ll be current on their vaccinations.

It’s always great to have a little money reserved, in case something does happen and you need to spend some dollars from a medical standpoint. Companies like Banfield offer a wellness plan that you can sign up for; it’s a fixed amount every month that covers everything you need to care for a pet. There are other companies that offer similar insurance plans. 

Is there a way to tell if a pet is healthy before adopting it?

Probably the most common thing you’ll see in a shelter environment is upper respiratory infection, which would be the equivalent of a cold for us. And you’re going to see it. The dog or cat may have goobery eyes and noses and they’re going to be sneezing and coughing. The good news is that it’s an easily treatable thing and it’s a very inexpensive antibiotic. You’re talking about a week or two weeks of time on an antibiotic. That’s a very easy disease to clear up. But the organization should have done a physical exam of the pet and have a very good understanding if the pet is a special-needs pet. If it’s going to need additional resources, they should know that and you should be aware of it as you’re looking at that pet. 

How do you know what kind of pet is right for you?

Usually, you’re going to walk in and the animal is going to choose you. You are going to see one that captures your eye and it will be an instant connection. Most shelters and rescue organizations will take you through an adoption questionnaire process where they are going to ask you questions. They will look at the dog or cat and know its personality, and they are going to ask you questions to ensure that you are the right match for that dog or cat.

What we don’t like to see is pets adopted and returned to the shelter because they weren’t quite what the person wanted. Sometimes it’s hard, because you fall in love with a pet that might not necessarily be what you were thinking you wanted. And once you understand what that pet needs, you have to decide whether or not you are able to make a commitment. 

Are there any breeds that are particularly in need of help?

If you look around the country, we have a really strong overrepresentation in shelters of Pit Bulls. We have more Pit Bulls than we have homes to adopt them. So, unfortunately, we have a very high rate of euthanasia for Pit Bulls. Then, regionally, you’ll see overrepresentation in the southwestern part of the country; we have a lot Chihuahuas. It can be a regional/cultural thing, but often as you walk through the shelter, you’ll see a huge number of Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas. And overall we have a much higher euthanization rate of cats than we do with dogs. We have a real need to dry up the number of cats that are coming to shelters, through spay/neuter programs. 

Are there volunteer opportunities for those who cannot adopt a pet, but would still like to contribute in some way?

Absolutely. Shelters and rescue organization are always looking for volunteers to help them do their work. You can also donate to help save a pet. We accept donations on our website and in the PetSmart stores, and that helps us to find homes for pets not only through our in-store program, but also through other adoption programs that we support.

You can go on our website to donate and we also have some information on volunteering. You can also visit the website of an animal welfare organization that you might be interested in and they will typically have information about how to donate and how to volunteer.

In the wake of a big hurricane or storm like Sandy, what are some ways people can help out?

We’ve been pretty active in the last few weeks with Sandy, sending out supplies. We have established a distribution center in Syracuse and we’re pushing out supplies to organizations that need them. We’re also working with Red Cross to distribute 1-lb. bags of dog food, which will go to  mobile food kitchens where people can come and get food for themselves as well as food for their pets. We’re taking donations on our website for emergency relief support and many other animal welfare organizations are doing that, as well.

Sometimes there is a desire to want to go and help physically, but sometimes the logistics are not really favorable for that. Personally, the best way to help is to donate and then let the organizations that are on the ground doing the work get those products and support out to the pets.

After Katrina, the animal welfare world got very organized as far as disaster response is concerned. There’s a national animal rescue organization called NARSC that is a conglomeration of organizations that provide emergency relief services. They are linked into FEMA and Red Cross, and they know whether it’s possible to get in, where to go and how to get the supplies to the needy. I think it’s always better to donate and let those organizations do it, unless you have an organization that specifically calls for volunteers.

With the holiday season approaching, are there any special gifts or donations available via PetSmart?