Hi Sweet Friends,
I’ve been blessed with many teachers throughout my life and they’ve come in all shapes and sizes. My grandmother. Dear friends. My husband. Books. Cancer. Healers. Doctors. The list goes on. Some teachers have been kind, some tough, and others have been a little off their rockers (in the best possible way).
But what I’ve noticed over the years is that my most powerful teachers walk on all fours.
A dairy cow who lived across the street from my childhood home. My soul-kitty Crystal (who I dedicated my second book to). Lately, I’ve been lucky enough to share my home with two wise, silly beings because of our choice to embrace animal adoption and animal rescue.
Most of you know Lola (#lolarocks). She’s part catahoula, part pitbull. Folks think she’s a hilarious hyena. We agree! You’ve probably also met Buddy by now (#gobuddygo). When we found him in the woods and he was a starving and emaciated shell of a dog with a resilient sweet soul. His journey back to health has taught me so much more about healing. It’s a Divine honor to watch him blossom and be part of his life.
That’s why I made this video for you. Often, people think that animal adoption and rescue are selfless acts—a one-way street. They don’t realize that by saving an animal, you could also be saving yourself. The love, companionship, and bond created with these loyal and innocent beings is truly unique and life-changing.
Watch the video above to meet my kids and to learn why my new guy is one of my greatest teachers (and if you want to learn about Lola’s adoption story, watch this video).
I’ve also added some resources for finding a fur-buddy of your own and how to take the best care of them. Check out my infographic for some jaw-dropping stats on adoptable animals in the US today.
Animal Adoption Resources
Where to adopt:
Want to adopt an animal, but don’t know where to start? Use these websites to search for an adoptable animal in your area. Also, you’re awesome!
Helpful adoption tips:
It’s helpful to get educated before bringing a furry new family member into your life. Take some time to read up on the responsibility and preparation that comes along with adopting a pet.
- Questions to ask yourself before adopting
- Adopt-a-Pet’s cat adoption articles
- Adopt-a-Pet’s dog adoption articles
- Tips for the first 30 days of dog adoption
- Tips for the first 30 days of cat adoption
Animal Care Resources
Holistic Veterinarians
You may not have known that holistic veterinarians even existed! They’re the Integrative MDs of the animal world. Your pet’s veterinarian should be able to help you create a diet that fits your animal’s needs. Want to find a holistic vet in your area? Check out these resources:
- American Holistic Veterinary Association
- Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
- American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
- American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
- Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association
Spaying and Neutering
There are numerous reasons to spay/neuter your pet (check out HSUS’s top ten reasons here), but one of the biggest reasons is overpopulation. As you can see in my infographic, 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year and only half of them are adopted on average. If money is a factor in your decision, check out this low-cost spay/neuter directory to find an affordable option. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of homeless animals today!
Putting an end to puppy mills
Lastly, I want to bring your attention to puppy mills in the US. According to the ASPCA, “A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Unlike responsible breeders, who place the utmost importance on producing the healthiest puppies possible, breeding at puppy mills is performed without consideration of genetic quality. This results in generations of dogs with unchecked hereditary defects.”
It’s estimated that there are 2,000-3,000 USDA-certified puppy mills in the US, but that number could be as high as 10,000 based on the large number of breeders operating without a license. The number of dogs at these facilities ranges for ten to 1,000 breeding animals. The animals at these mills often live in unsanitary, overcrowded conditions without proper veterinary care or adequate food or water. And many of them are euthanized.
How can you help stop puppy mills?
- Choose to adopt from a shelter rather than buying an animal at a pet store or online.
- Take the ASPCA pledge to boycott pet stores that sell dogs from puppy mills.
- Flex your policy muscles by helping the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade push legislation that will crack down on puppy mills.
I hope that this blog inspires you to adopt an animal in need from a shelter and to research more holistic approaches to caring for your pet. Lola and Buddy have brought so much joy, love and comfort to us—they complete our little family! Adopting them has changed our lives and I know adoption could transform yours too.
Bonus: Blooper Reel
Your Turn: Encourage others to adopt by sharing this article and your story!
Peace & compassion,
I have two adoptees…Gracie a Boston Terrier and Buddy a Chihuahua. I love them both dearly and feel so luck everyday to have them be part of my family! I’ve done a lot of photography work for various pet rescues which is how both Gracie and Buddy came into my life.
Thanks Kris for sharing this enlightening information. My pets personally provide me such immense joy so I hope others will be able to share this same blessing if they aren’t already. One other piece of information to note, I am sure this varies state by state, but in CO, almost anyone can sell up to 2 litters or 24 dogs per year for profit without a breeder’s license, which I don’t think is okay for a multitude of obvious reasons. Just another reason to get your pets from shelters, reputable breeders and adoption organizations.
We experience miracles everyday here at NOAH.
Thank you for putting the spotlight on spay/neuter and adoption. We love that you post animals for adoption. Spay/Neuter is something we do everyday, including community cats (feral), for free. NOAH’s 500 volunteers make a difference to every life saved and every spay/neuter that is done. NOAH has done 60,000 spay/neuters and 29,000 adoption and we are going to do a lot more!!
Thank you for the support!!
sometimes I think when there is room in your heart, animals actually find you. I always wanted my own pet, then my husband came with a cat, philo. all three of us were a happy family and then George (husband) called me to tell me one day that someone had left a cat in a cat carrier outside our building entrance. I rushed home and we talked to all the neighbors, no one knew the cat. I called all the shelters, panicking, as we were leaving the next morning for CA. It was holiday season and i couldn’t get hold of anyone. I took her into the apartment and a small skinny black kitten jumped out of the carrier and into my arms. My husband came up with idea to leave her with my father in law, 89, who was already cat sitting for Philo while we were away. Meanwhile we put signs up everywhere, no response. We had to keep the cats isolated as we didn’t know her health status. We took her to the vet when we returned, got her tested for FIV, eventually had her spayed and then she came home with us. She is the sweetest, most gentle cat ever and even my husband adores her. My father in law, George Sr. named her Elvira. we call her elvie. The only one who is not happy about this is the former king of the household, philo. The cats have helped us through some rough times and even my own cancer experience. I decided to return the favor and I now volunteer at a local shelter. I can’t recommend it enough. As you said, we can learn so much from animals, and also from the way humans treat them. It is overwhelming how many animals are surrendered by their owners.Thank you for being such a great advocate for the animals, Kris:) so glad you went hiking that day!
Your fur babies are so cute! I adopted my own (an American Shorthair named Pouncer) four years ago from a rescue and I couldn’t imagine my life if I hadn’t!
Sooo lovely.
I remember meeting buddy soon after you got him.
So inspiring to see how strong and happy he’s become.
You guys are great parents.
And such a great reminder that we can’t rush recovery.
Ruff Ruff
Josh
Oh Kris, your video made me tear up at work! It is almost three months to the day that I brought home my first ever adoptee. I am a young twenty-something who moved out on my own for the first time at the beginning of December and I was missing my family dog and cat terribly. On a whim I was on the Toronto Cat Rescue website and within days a sweet little black cat came into my life. She was found wandering outside in the cold winter and after a few weeks of suffering in the animal shelter (she developed a URI and became anorexic) a wonderful foster family took her in. It was only about 7 days later that I brought her into her forever home. Having been found abandoned, she was nameless. What to call this sweet little girl? I decided on Prem – Hindi Sanskrit for “love”. She has taught me so much (and continues to!) about love and recovery, especially the patience part. What you said about Buddy coming into his own on his own terms really resonated on this journey with Prem. Oh how much she has taught me! I am so grateful to have her in my life.
Love it Kris! We have 2 cats that we adopted from a shelter that are the most fun, lovable, and adorbs companions! But we’d also like to get a dog someday too! I love the idea of adopting and saving an animal (or 2! or 3!). We saved a dog when I was little too and had him for almost 17 years. Animals give an amazing amount of love! You’re doing great work by getting the word out. xo
I couldn’t love you more if I tried! It is so amazing that you feature adoptable dogs, especially pit bulls in your blogs. I have 2 rescued pit bulls that were also rescued from a high kill shelter right before their kill dates…I originally fostered them but I couldn’t let them go <3 Sending love to your little monkeys!
My dream is to ban the sale of animals in pet store WORLDWIDE so that ALL animals in shelters can find a forever home. I know they a small town in British Columbia banned the sale of animals in pet store and it totally worked: shelters were EMPTY.
Your video warmed my heart Kris, thank you. I will share with everyone 🙂
Kris, you just keep getting better and better. So many animals need homes, so thank you for bringing this awareness into your (and our) lives!
Oh, beautiful lady, this video made me cry w/ joy! Bravo! You speaketh so genuinely from the heart! Question is: Who is luckier? You or the dogs? XXOOXXOO!!!!
Hey Kris, loved your video on adopting little furry family members! I am currently fostering for a local cat charity and as a result I had the pleasure in hosting 5 cats over the last year and more to come. Every single one of them taught and is still teaching me new things on a daily basis and I am forever grateful to being part of something so wonderful! The love that these little ones show us once rescued, is absolutely amazing and second to none. Hopefully we can make a difference in peoples’ lives and teach more and more people about how important it is to neuter and also adopt cats and dogs under any circumstances instead of going to a breeder. Thanks for sharing your story and being a role model! xx
LOVED watching the story of #gobuddygo unfold and shed a few tears along the way as well ♥ What a great story! And I agree, I’ve learned so much from my own adoption experience with Lucy. You know how it goes – can’t imagine life w/out ’em 🙂 pic.twitter.com/FRghhEQKF5
Seeing Buddy run with glee brought tears to my eyes! My best gal pal is your pet sitter, so I’ve gotten updates along the way. He looks amazing! And Lola always does…such a wonderfully happy ending for all of you! I’ve got 2 shelter dogs at home, and know deeply the joy and love they bring. Hooray for you!
Your friend in FL (even though we haven’t met =)) Kate
Yay Buddy and Lola!!! I remember seeing your pictures on Instagram when you first adopted him.. such a sad sight. But to see him bounding around playfully in your video is so heart warming 🙂 I absolutely agree that animals can teach us so much. My rescue greyhound Neve is my own personal furry guru. After a mental breakdown at 22, I quit my corporate job and adopted Neve. We built our new lives together, and have never looked back. She has taught me so much about healing, unconditional love, non judgement and being silly!!
You are such an inspiration to me on so many levels. That was the best animal adoption segment I’ve ever seen. I’ve been following you ever since you came on the scene, and share your books and name with everyone who needs you. The transformation in Buddy is so heart warming, and I hope he knows what a lucky pup he is to have you as a companion. Bless you for all you give back to such a needy world.
I love that you use your forum to advocate for adoption! And I adore your fur-babies, especially Lola. I run a Pit Bull Rescue in San Diego and am passionate about adoption and awareness. I don’t know how I missed the fact that that is a passion of yours as well. I guess I had just bucketed you into my health and nutrition bucket and not in my rescue and adoption bucket. Just another reason to love you. Thank you for sharing your video. I am going to share it on my FB page so everyone can see.
PLEASE SHARE THIS =Awesome Sharpei named Tonka… he has been in a kennel too long and needs someone to love him and give him a good home!!
Tonka (#499-14)
http://www.macspro.org/images/adoption/2014/Tonka1.jpg
Tonka, our gentle blind boy is scared in his new surroundings and misses having a family to be with. He really needs a foster or forever home.
http://www.macspro.org/adoptions.html#tonka
Love your story! Thank you for sharing the need for adoption with the world. We have adopted three pets (2 loving dogs and 1 loving cat!). They have changed our lives and expanded our hearts.
Beautiful Kris Carr! We are all connected, our Universe has so many great things at play and for me at this time, your video is a part of my dharma! My concise puppy tale is this:
My rescue Pitbull Terrier, Ruby, passed away due to an internally bleeding malignant tumor just two days after this past Christmas 🙁 Ruby was rescued by my love, Brian, who was volunteering for his local SPCA and was told she wouldn’t make it, just like you were told about your Buddy. Brian nursed our Ruby back to health and MORE until she became a gorgeous strong pup full of love and life and she lived 8 more years after that.
This winter has been the most difficult of my life, mourning our baby girl. Talk of rescuing another pup in need developed in our home, our depressingly quiet and dog-less home, this past Sunday. Welp, once we perused our local SPCA’s site, we found another Pitbull in need of rescuing that stole our hearts. Her name is Sky and she has been in the shelter for TWO YEARS!! She’s a 6 year old pup that people are reluctant to take home due to her age 🙁 We’re told people are interested in adopting puppies, not adult dogs. We saw her face online and immediately knew this was the best way to honor Ruby and do our duty as pup lovers and rescue another! We have met Sky in person and are completing the adoption process currently <3
I also thought you may like to read my FIRST EVER published article I submitted to Mind Body Green a few years ago entitled "12 Things I Learned From My Dog" that is ALL ABOUT RUBY! People can talk all day about feeling good adopting animals and I LOVE THAT but I loved even MORE that you mentioned what we can LEARN from our furry friends!! Ruby was my greatest teacher and in her honor I will mother many more animals in need <3 Here's my article below if any of you would like to give it a read 🙂
Sending LOVE and HUGS to all animal lovers on this thread and beyond!! Namaste <3
Thanks for giving Sky the chance she needed. She’s been waiting for her furever home and it seems like she’s found it in you. 🙂
“Senior” dogs are the best dogs. I am truly thankful for people who find the love for older dogs since they have just as much love to give as puppies (and are a whole lot less work)! My furbaby (also a pittie) was 5 when I brought her home. She’s 7 now and while her favorite thing to do is snuggle she can chase a tennis ball or a frisbee with the most energetic of puppies.
Alicia, I love that you brought up considering adopting an older dog. Our sweet pup was approximately 6 when we adopted her. She’s been with us for six years and is just a sweetie. We’re dealing with some older dog issues like stiffness and some deafness but we’ll be here for her as long as we can. Older dogs are wonderful companions too! <3