Why You Should Adopt a Pet
Although it is easy to go to a pet store or breeder and buy a new puppy or kitten, you may be contributing to a larger problem by possibly buying an animal with multiple health issues due to irresponsible breeding and housing practices. By adopting a pet from an animal shelter or rescue, you can not only find a wonderful pet, but help curb the problems in the pet-sales industry.
Overpopulation
Between careless owners who do not spay and neuter their pets and irresponsible backyard breeders and puppy mills, the United States has an overpopulation of dogs and cats. There are too many animals and not enough homes for them. You can help solve the problem by adopting an animal that is in desperate need of a good home. Most shelters and rescues pre-screen animals to ensure that they will make good pets, and can give you information about local veterinarians, pet supply stores, and obedience schools to help you become a knowledgeable pet owner.
Save a Life
Due to overpopulation, between 3 million and 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year. Those are often healthy, well-behaved and sometimes purebred animals who simply can no longer be cared for by shelters. Shelters have limited resources and cannot care for all of the homeless pets that come through their doors. By choosing to adopt instead of buying a pet, you can save the life of an animal that would be an excellent pet.
Assist the Shelter
If you choose to adopt an animal from an animal shelter or rescue, you not only save that animal but also free up space and resources for other homeless animals to be taken in.
Match-making
If you adopt from an animal shelter or a rescue group, you will have the added benefit of the counselling involved in making sure you and your potential pet are a good match. Shelters and rescues are committed to finding a perfect "forever" home for each pet. They will talk to you and allow you to interact and get to know your potential pet. If you are adopting a puppy or a purebred, they can give you an idea of what kind of behavior to expect. Additionally, if you have problems after the adoption, you can contact the shelter or rescue and look for solutions or, if the match isn't working out or your personal situation changes, you can even return the pet to the shelter.
A Healthy, Happy Pet
For a relatively low adoption fee, you can adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue that is healthy, fully vaccinated, and maybe even spayed or neutered (some shelters require you to have the pet spayed or neutered, but may give you a voucher to cover some or all of the costs). Additionally, many pets from rescues have spend time in foster homes of experienced pet owners. That means your pet will have been socialized to a family, and that family will know intimate details about your potential pet's personality, habits, and health history. That will help you to adopt a pet that will work well with your home situation and suit your personality.
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