Why you should adopt a pet

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is celebrated every April 30th. It was created to raise awareness and to remind people who are planning on getting a pet to consider adopting. There are thousands of pets waiting for a forever home. When you adopt a pet from a shelter you are saving a life.

According to the Northshore Animal League 4,000,000-5,000,000 animals are destroyed each year in the U.S. That’s a shocking and little-known statistic. As the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, they continuously take animals out of harm’s way—whether it’s rescuing them from other shelters where they would be destroyed; pulling them out of national emergency areas, saving them from the perils of puppy mills and so many other places where they would be abused or euthanized. (animalleague.org)

It costs less to adopt a pet from a shelter than purchasing one from a breeder. Costs can vary depending on where you live and whether you’re interested in adopting a cat or a dog. Cost can run anywhere from $50.00 to $300.00. Compare that to the $1,000+ you may have to pay if purchasing from a breeder.

When you adopt, you’re giving another animal an opportunity to be adopted and find a new family. You’re also reducing the demand that keeps puppy and kitten mills in business. For that reason you should say no to pet stores.

When you purchase a pup from a pet store you are unknowingly supporting puppy mills. A puppy mill is a massive breeding operation where hundreds of dogs are kept in overcrowded and often unsanitary conditions without proper veterinary care, food, water or human interaction. Puppies born in puppy mills are often seriously sick, poorly socialized and have hereditary and congenital defects from being bred carelessly. (redrover.org).

Adopting is the most selfless act of love one can do.  In 2009 we adopted our male Tri-Color Cavalier King Charles named Charley. While under the care of his foster mom he was recovering from wounds he had on his paws from being kept in a crate that had no bedding whatsoever. Because he was kept in a crate for most of his young life he had a curvature in his spine and his fur was yellow from laying in his own excrement.  He was auctioned off at a facility that no longer wanted the dogs after solely using them for breeding purposes.

We were so blessed and lucky to have had Charley in our lives. Sadly, we lost him on May 2, 2015.

Adopting an older dog also has its perks. Many of the older animals are house trained and are able to walk on a leash. There may be little training involved, whereas raising a puppy can be very time-consuming. When adopting you also have many different types of breeds that may be readily available.

Remember, many of these poor animals have been given up due to circumstances beyond their control. Many of them find their way to the shelter due to a pet parents death, divorce, health issues for the owner, etc…….don’t assume that the dog is there due to bad behavior.

So, if you’re considering adding a new furry member to your family, please consider adopting.  “You can’t buy love, but you can certainly rescue it.”