Top 5 Reasons to Adopt a Pet

-You'll Save a Life

- You'll Get a Healthy Pet

- You'll Save Money

- You'll Feel Better

- You Won't be Supporting Puppy Mills and Pet Stores


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 sometime need to make very hard decisions to euthanize animals who haven't been adopted. The number of euthanized animals could be greatly reduces 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 the 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 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 it's 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 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 fee a bargain.

4. You'll Feel Better
Pets have a way of putting a smile on your face. Not only do they 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. 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 the dogs. Most dogs raised in puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care. 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 being part of a family. After they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded - either killed, abandoned or sold at auctions.
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 puppies came from (a vital step in puppy buying). Man of the puppies have serious behavioral and health problems that may not be apparent for months, Some of these include medical problems that can sot thousands of dollars to treat, if they can be treated 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 outlets, they are unwittingly supporting this cruel industry.
By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you aren't supporting puppy mills with your money. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing their dogs. Instead of buying your dog, visit your local shelter where you will likely find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies and adult dogs - including pure breads- just waiting for that special home - yours.