Adoption recession?

Those of you who read me regularly know that I volunteer at Project POOCH, a program that pairs incarcerated youth with homeless dogs who are trained and hopefully adopted to loving homes.

During my last visit to MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility where Project POOCH is located, there was a bit of heaviness in the air. I thought perhaps it had to do with unusual delay in warmer weather, as it's rained and remained cold here in Oregon longer than it should have. I soon found that like everything else at POOCH, the feeling of sadness had nothing to do with the weather, but everything to do with the dogs.

Apparently, visits by potential adopters and actual adoptions have come to a screeching halt. No one is calling, no one is coming to see the dogs and no one is happily taking their new companion to a forever home.

We pondered the possibilities, wondering if gas prices and the constant hype about a recession could be preventing potential adopters from making the trip out to MacLaren and taking on the financial responsibility of a new dog. Maybe it was just the weather, as adoptions often spike when the nicer weather arrives, and it hadn't yet arrived this year.

On one hand, I hate that these wonderful dogs are having to wait for loving homes. On the other hand, I can't help but think it's a good thing that potential owners are thinking about the financial responsibility of owning a pet.

So many times, acquiring a pet is a purely emotional process that ends in relinquishment once reality sets in. In the beginning, the puppy is cute or the kids want to adopt a dog (any dog) today! Once the pup becomes an unruly adolescent or the kids lose interest in the dog they just had to have, it's back to the shelter and the process starts all over again with a lowered chance of a second adoption.

So, even though I ache for Copper, Lil' Buddy, Lucy, Rex, Freddie, Sassy and all the other dogs at MacLaren who are waiting for homes, I would much prefer that they wait for the right home at the right time than be snatched up in a whirlwind of emotion only to return to "the system" later.