Thinking of getting a pet? Here’s why adopting is better
You’ll save lives
- While the estimates vary, approximately three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized (“put to sleep”) each year in the United States because too few people spay or neuter the pets they have, too few adopt, and too many give up their pets.
- Because space at shelters are limited, they must make the difficult decision to euthanize healthy animals that are not adopted within a certain amount of time.
You’ll get a great pet
- Animal shelters and rescue groups have plenty of healthy, well-behaved animals waiting for a home.
- Most shelters examine and vaccinate animals when they arrive, and many shelters spay or neuter them before adoption.
- It is a common belief that abused animals or those that misbehave badly, ends up in shelters.
- In truth, most animals in shelters are there because of “people reasons”: divorce, moving, lack of time, and financial constraints are among the most common reasons why pets lose their homes.
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.
- Buying a pet can easily cost $500 to $1000 or more; adoption costs range from $50 to $200. In addition, animals from many shelters are already spayed, or neutered and vaccinated, which makes the shelter’s fee a bargain.
You Won’t Support Puppy or Kitten Mills
- Puppy and kitten mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of animals.
- These mills that raises most animals have poor housing conditions and improper medical care.
- They are often in poor health and have ongoing behavior and health problems due to lack of human companionship and inbreeding.
- Pet stores, the internet, and newspaper advertisements shows/sells mill animals to unsuspecting customers.
- By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain that you aren’t supporting puppy or kitten mills.
