Honeymoon Period Can be Short for Pet Adoptions

If you've ever volunteered at a shelter, you'll understand this plea. If you plan on volunteering in the future, read this. Know about the honeymoon period and be prepared for animals who fall victim to it.

This discussion comes up pretty frequently when you volunteer with an animal welfare organization. It is one of the main reasons animals are returned to shelters in alarming numbers over and over again.

A honeymoon period can exist if you are 18 or 80, have children or don't, are married or not, and causes many round-table discussions among people who are committed to caring for these animals....

The truth is, these animals are not toasters to be traded in for a new model to fit in the new kitchen; not quite your style anymore, so you upgrade. This is my plea to you: Do your research. If you make a commitment to an animal, follow through. If you simply can't, please return the animal to the rescue you received it from. This will prevent heartache all the way around.

Take a Vacation...and Help an Animal!

Very cool article with great ideas for those of us who would like to combine traveling with animal work.

I've bookmarked it for further research. Hopefully, I won't have to sell our house to go!

Voluntourism as it's being dubbed by the travel industry, offers people from all walks of life, the opportunity to visit interesting places in the U.S. as well as remote and exotic destinations, and volunteer their time or specific skills for the benefit of a cause of their choosing — and animal welfare and related environmental issues top the list.

Charity Guide a Web-based volunteer directory that puts it all on a plate for potential volunteer vacationers.

The Web site lists some of the best volunteer vacation possibilities offered worldwide by reputable organizations and links potential travelers directly to them so that they can efficiently glean all the information they need to put their travel arrangements in motion.

Photo by silentdream.