Thinking of adding a
pet to your family? Here are five reasons to adopt your new best friend.
1. You'll save a life
Sadly, between 3 and 4
million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States simply
because too many people give up their pets and too few people adopt from
shelters. Because there is limited space at shelters, staff members sometimes
need to make very hard decisions to euthanize animals who haven't been adopted.
The number of
euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets
instead of buying them. By adopting from a private humane society or animal
shelter, breed rescue group, or the local animal control agency, you'll help
save the lives of two animals—the pet you adopt and a homeless animal somewhere
who can be rescued because of space you helped free up.
2. You'll get a
healthy pet
Animal shelters are
brimming with happy, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them
home. Most shelters examine and give vaccinations to animals when they arrive,
and many spay or neuter them before being adopted. In addition to medical care,
more and more shelters also screen animals for specific temperaments and
behaviors to make sure each family finds the right pet for its lifestyle.
It is a common
misconception that animals end up in shelters because they've been abused or
done something "wrong". In fact, most animals are given to shelters
because of "people reasons," not because of anything they've done.
Things like a divorce, a move, lack of time or financial constraints are among
the most common reasons why pets lose their homes.
3. You'll save money
Adopting a pet from an
animal shelter is much less expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or
through other sources. In addition, animals from many shelters are already
spayed or neutered and vaccinated, which makes the shelter's fee a real
bargain.
4. You'll feel better
Pets have a way of
putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Not only do animals
give you unconditional love, but they have been shown to be psychologically,
emotionally, and physically beneficial. Caring for a companion animal can
provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessen feelings of loneliness
and isolation in all age groups.
Pets can help your
physical health as well—just spending time with an animal can help lower a
person's blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and dog walking, pet grooming,
and even petting provide increased physical activity that can help strengthen
the heart, improve blood circulation, and slow the loss of bone tissue. Put
simply, pets aren't just good friends, they're also good medicine and can
improve a person's well-being in many ways.
5. You won't be
supporting puppy mills and pet stores
Puppy mills are "factory
style" dog-breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs.
Most dogs raised in puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with
improper medical care, and the parents of the puppies are kept in cages to be
bred over and over for years, without human companionship and with little hope
of ever joining a family. And after they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs
are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold at auction.
Puppy mill puppies are sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores, over the
Internet and through newspaper classified advertisements to whoever is willing
to pay for them.
Marketed as coming
from great breeders, well-rehearsed sales tactics keep money flowing to the
puppy mill by ensuring that buyers never get to see where the pups actually
come from (a vital step in puppy buying). Many of the puppies have serious
behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent for months, including
medical problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if they are
treatable at all. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not even aware that puppy
mills exist, so when they buy a pet from a pet store, online or other retail
outlet, they are unwittingly supporting this cruel industry.
By adopting instead of
buying a pet, you can be certain you aren't supporting cruel puppy mills with
your money. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing
their dogs. Instead of buying a dog, visit your local shelter where you will
likely to find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies and adult
dogs—including purebreds—just waiting for that special home—yours.
ME:
Shelters almost always have atleast 10 or more purebreds on the premises if you just insist on the whole purebred thing but a mix breed is just as good because hey we are all pretty much a mix of different places usually. and the papers dont make the dog, the dog makes himself. Ive had many purebreds and ive had many mix breeds.. Ive actually had better pets when i had the mix breeds. Love my purebreds too though. I have adopted six dogs from my local shelter and every single one of them have been the best dogs ever. They are loyal and will always love you because you saved them from those small cages and being put down... Rescue dogs will never forget you took them in and saved them. They Will always protect you and love you and make you laugh. You will never regret adopting a dog or cat for that matter from a shelter. I've adopted cats from shelters too and it is just the same. They are all happy to be saved and taken into a home and loved.
SO ADOPT! DONT BREED OR SUPPORT PUPPY MILLS!!!!!!
