Planning to get a new furry friend but not sure where to get it from?
There are many options that you can consider in this regard. You can get a four-legged companion from a reliable breeder or pet store. Both of these are common choices that people consider when getting a pet for themselves or for their families.
However, instead of asking you to get a pet from either of these sources, we’re suggesting that you adopt a pet from an animal shelter.
Research shows that there are about 6.5 million animal shelters in the United States alone. Out of those, approximately 3.2 million are cat shelters, and 3.3 million are dog shelters. APPA reports conclude that 34% of dogs are bought from breeders, while 23% of dogs are adopted from an animal shelter. One of the top reasons for people not obtaining animals from shelters is their unknown origin. Since most animals are stray, they could possess behavioral or health problems. That being said, we still believe that you should get animals from an animal shelter.
Not convinced yet?
Read on to learn why we think it is best to adopt a loving furry companion from an animal shelter.
Did you know that approximately 670,000 dogs are euthanized almost every year? This happens due to many reasons; overcrowding is one of the most common reasons for putting an animal to death. It is also done because animals suffer from life-threatening medical conditions or are aggressive, depressed, or suffering from something more severe.
All animals deserve to live a happy and healthy life, especially those in an animal shelter. These animals need most of our love since they are abandoned or lost. You can provide them with a second chance at life by adopting them.
Approximately 6 to 8 million homeless animals enter animal shelters annually in the United States. In order to accommodate new arrivals, the old ones are euthanized. This number is even crazier when you think about just how many animals have to be put to sleep to make space for new arrivals.
The sad truth is that they are not adopted in time and meet a tragic end. Some of these animals that end up dying are otherwise perfectly fit for adoption. But due to the overpopulation in shelters, they are unfortunately euthanized. This unwanted step of euthanasia can only be stopped (or reduced, at the very least) if people start adopting their pets from animal shelters instead of buying them from breeders.
Buying a pet from a pet store can be expensive as compared to adopting one from an animal shelter. Purchasing a pet can cost you around $500 to $1000 or above. However, adoption is a more affordable route, as a pet can easily be adopted within $50 to $200.
Moreover, in many shelters, animals are already vaccinated, neutered, or spayed, so you won’t have to spend extra money on these very vital procedures.
One of the best things about an animal shelter is that it houses a wide variety of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other pets. Most shelters examine and vaccinate animals as they arrive, and they also neuter or spay them before adoption. Shelters or rescue groups also help in suggesting the right pet according to your preferences and lifestyle.
Don’t worry; most of these pets are perfectly healthy and well-behaved. A common notion among people is that pet are dropped at shelters because they are sick, misbehaved, or violent. However, that’s not always the reason for them to being put into a shelter house. Many of them are abandoned because their owners are moving or have financial or time constraints. This means that adopted pets can be just as loyal and loving as a purchased pet. And you can easily find the one according to your preference!
Many shelters accommodate animals that are already trained by their previous owners. Renowned shelters also conduct social behavioral training for sheltered animals.
If you don’t have time to train a pet, you can easily find a trained animal from a good shelter. In this way, you will save your money on training expenses, too.
Training older dogs and cats can be challenging, more so if they have never found a proper owner to shelter them. It is likely that they have picked up bad behavior from other stray animals. As such, they could be dangerous and vile to those around them. Bringing such an animal to your house can be detrimental to your purpose of having a loving and caring pet. But that’s not the case with homeless puppies and kittens. You will have a lot of time to train and socialize them. With regular behavioral training, exercises, and social activities, adopted animals can become just like other normal pets.
Nothing feels more righteous than setting a good example for others. Once you adopt a pet and it turns out to be worthy of your time and money, it is likely that people, including your siblings, relatives, neighbors, and colleagues, will want to get one for themselves as well.
Often, people don’t adopt pets because they are scared of the idea of adoption or they haven’t seen anyone doing it around them. By adopting a pet yourself, you will raise awareness among others for homeless pets.
To throw light on the plight of homeless animals, and support adoption for pets, adopt an animal today! www.puccicafe.com/adoptions