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,
Hi Kris, I have been following Buddy’s story since you found him and it really touches my heart.
On Friday I saw a post on a Facebook page I follow supporting and helping to adopt local animals. The post had picture of a dog they named Buddy, and showed a seriously thin hunting hound with bleeding paws. He needed an urgent bed for a few nights as he was too weak to travel anywhere, and his recuers already had their own dog, and Buddy was terrified of the dog and wouldn’t come near the house. I scrolled down the post and his location was just 15km from where I live. So I got in touch and now Buddy is recovering in my home. He is such a gentle sweet boy, but he is scarred of everything, and has clearly never been in a house before. He breaks my heart when I look at him, and see how sad he is. I have not fostered a dog before, but we are doing OK, he is realising that he can trust me, and that his bed is his own. I just wanted to share my Buddys story with you, as I am so familiar with your Buddys story, and they are such similar stories.
I love your work (and juices) and I hope Buddy is doing OK right now.
Jenna xx
What’s up to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this blog; this website consists of amazing and
really excellent material for readers.
Hi Kris,
I was wondering if you have ever adapted your diet to dogs? My “Holly ” has Osteosarcoma and has been given a short time to live! Up until July 1st she was a healthy dog at 10 years of age! I have started feeding her the Omega 3 diet and adding wild venison. Please let me know if you have any feedback as time is of the essence.
Thank You Very Much,
Jennifer
I love this! Inspired me to adopt little dixie mae from the animal rescue foundation in Ontario, Canada. My summer is now all about puppy training and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Dear Kris,
It is so wonderful to have someone like you put equal importance on our animal companions, as well as how we eat and live. I find that TOO many people focus only on health, or spirituality, or food, or, or, and forget our beautiful animal beings.
Thank you!
Thanks for the updates! Buddy is looking amazing!!
We have 6 rescued kids.. 2 cats (Daisy’s from the SPCA and Gobzilla accosted me in the forest)
Our 4 dogs all have sad stories.. Our big girl, Nellie, was living in a home where she was being fed drugs at parties.. When we took her 9 years ago, we promised her she’d never have to worry again. We brought her with us when we moved to Canada from New Zealand. Sam was dumped at the SPCA as a young dog.., he was difficult to say the least! How about every Cesar Millan show rolled into one!?? yeah.. Sam.. But we didn’t give up. He learned lots and grew into a good dog. The he got sick with a very rare disease leaving him with some neurological damage about a year after he came to be with us. Now he has aggressive seizures.. but we still haven’t given up on him.. I see his sweet soul, and that’s all that matters. Oscar was the product of a puppy mill, where when the current litter doesn’t sell, she drowns them. She had 2 more litters in the paper already, and Osc was the leftovers.. but not for long! And Finn, my most recent love story, originally from San Diego, this skinny, almost bald, sad thing broke my heart in a shelter nearby, he’s learnt to trust people, and love life. He had been badly abused, and was very afraid of hands, sticks, loud noises, falling objects.. he’s got a bit to go yet, but he’s taught me so much about trust and forgiveness.. If only us humans could be more like them. I’d be lost without them.
This is beautiful! Thank you for being a leader on this issue, Kris. My kitty is a rescue as well. Keep up the good work, sis. xoxoxo
You are amazing, Kris. You inspires not just by your personal story but also by the things that you had done and are doing.
I love dogs. They always seem to have the canny ability to detect our emotions and be there for us when we are down. It is heart breaking to see so many of them landing in shelter homes due to abandonment of their owners. How can people abandon their family member is something that I can never comprehend.
Thank you for sharing the video and bringing this awareness to us.
What an amazing thing you did Kris, taking Buddy in 🙂 Animals are such blessings x
Your story about Buddy made my morning! He looks exactly like my rescue hound. I am so amazed on how animals help heal. We had a home invasion/robbery with 7 rescue dogs inside. I happened to come home to find the majority of the older dogs outside, except Halle our hound who was traumatized and shaking like a leaf in the bathroom. I suspect they used a tazor gun. We of course rushed her and my 3 legged dog to the vet and to our relief, no broken bones were found. Halle has finally come out of her shell after 3 years. These rescue dogs are angels in fur, and you can’t hug or kiss them enough. As for me, she helped heal me through my trauma of the invasion. God Bless you on promoting animal rescues.
Hi Kris,
Just wanted to say that I read up a lot on you after I was diagnosed with breast cancer in autumn 2011. As a British writer and journalist, aged 44, living in France and being treated (very efficiently and speedily) here, I was desperate to read about someone else like me who wanted to get back in control and not just leave it to the doctors (marvellous as they were). I struggled to find much in the way of inspiration but your tips and energy and sheer refusal to accept your fate were just what I was searching for. I wrote my own book (as I couldn’t work much during treatment) and have just published Breathing Out about my journey. Like you, I’ve learned a lot, I’ve laughed (and cried) and tried to pass on the tips and advice that kept me going. Although I never, ever thought I would say this, I feel like cancer has changed me for the better. I’ve just had my two year control check and tout va bien, as we say down here, so I just want to say thanks, well done and keep up the good work.
Just love love love this video,Kris!!!! <3 Thank you!
Just tried the Asian sesame wraps and we love them! So tasty. Yum yum yum!
And when our avocados ripen, we will make that delicious looking chocolate mousse with sea salt…OMG
thanks!xo
This was awesome!! and super cute 🙂 love you all!