Adopt Don’t Shop

We’ve all heard the phrase, “adopt don’t shop,” especially in recent years where the movement to rescue has truly taken flight. One of the many reasons behind the overabundance of shelter animals today is the fact that people remain uneducated. Often times, when a person or family searches for a new furry friend to add to the pack, they have a specific, or favorite, breed in mind. Then begins the journey to find that breed, and that journey will almost always bring results from everywhere else but a shelter. This is not to say that living, breathing animals outside of shelters do not deserve loving homes. However, the underlying problem is that people are choosing to have their pets bred, rather than giving homes to the ones that are already alive and in need of homes. With that in mind, when looking for a new furry friend, it’s important to keep “adopt don’t shop” and the below facts as your guide.

You’ll save a life. 2.7 million adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized annually because too many animals enter shelters and too few people consider adoption.

You’ll save money. Most adoption organizations include the cost of spay/neuter, first vaccinations and microchipping in their adoption fees; some shelters do this for as low as $100!

You’ll fight puppy mills. Puppy mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs (humanesociety.org), and if you purchase a dog from a pet store or online seller, it’s almost certain your dog will be from a puppy mill.

You’ll help more than just one animal. By adopting one cat or dog out of a shelter, you’re opening up room for another homeless cat or dog to enter and find their forever home.

You’ll give a wonderful animal a wonderful home. Only 1 out of 10 dogs born will find a permanent home. By adopting a dog or cat, you’ll help to change that statistic.