Don't Pet Shop, Just Adopt
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Dogs and cats can be wonderful companions to us humans. They can teach us about ourselves, as well as provide a loving, and playful experience for many years. Pets are wildly popular in the United States. Over 40 million homes include a pet as a family member.
What People Are Saying
Given the chance, would you adopt an animal rather then buy one from a pet store?
See results without votingMost Never Have a Chance
Statistics show that 3-4 million pets are euthanized each year in the United States. Some shelters have a very high kill rate. Depending on the shelter, the animal will either die by injection, gas or heartstick. Many of these are given the death penalty solely based on their breed. Due to the amount of backyard breeders and puppy mills, the over-population of animals is heartbreaking. Unless you experience it first hand, it’s difficult to grasp the reality of how many animals die each year.
The Pet Store and Adoption
Eleven years ago, I bought a dachshund puppy from a pet store. I was unaware where this puppy came from. I was ignorant about puppy mills, backyard breeders and how many unwanted animals there were in shelters across the U.S. I love my pet store dog more than anything, but I will never again “shop" for a dog. Since then, I have adopted two dogs from shelters. One actually came from a shelter in Texas, which is a few states away from me. I highly recommend checking out your local shelters or even ones that are within a few states away. Many shelters have volunteers that will help with transportation if you chose to adopt an out-of-state dog or cat. For instance, the "Pilots for Paws" program is composed of private pilots flying their own aircraft to bring adoptees to their new home. The love that these shelter animals have for being given a second chance is boundless. Research breeds before you go; certain breeds require different attention and care. Make sure the breed matches your family needs. There is a program on Animal Planet called “Animals 101” that focuses on breeds of dogs and cats that can teach you about the breed, and what their needs/wants are.
When You Adopt
Ensure that you get your animal spayed or neutered, as this will not only help the population of unwanted animals decrease, but will also help with the health of your new pet. Check locally to see if there are low-cost spay/neuter clinics around you if cost is a concern.
When you adopt an animal, you should have them micro-chipped. If they get lost and end up at a shelter, they can be reunited with you quickly. For pet owners, this is the first place to look for a lost animal. That is the first thing a shelter will look for when a stray comes in. By returning your pet to you quickly, this saves a spot for another animal to have a little more time at the shelter.
Why Do Some People Turn Animals In?
There are many excuses given when owners surrender their own pets to a shelter. New baby, new girlfriend/boyfriend, doesn’t like, has allergies, moving, got too big. These are sad reasons. A new baby may just mean you need to spend a little time with both and let them get used to each other. New girlfriend/boyfriend doesn't like? Animal ownership is a responsibility that lasts the life of the animal. Have allergies; allergy shots are easy to get and are low cost. Moving? Take your animal with you or move to a place that takes animals. Got too big? This goes back to making sure when you do adopt, you find one that will fit your family needs. If for some reason you must give up your animal, do not take it to a kill shelter. They will put to sleep animals surrendered by owners before a stray. Call local rescues or take them to a no-kill shelter. Otherwise if you take them into a kill shelter- you are giving them a death sentence. Your local SPCA must disclose if they are a kill shelter if you ask.
I hope this article touches your heart and can possibly help save an animal! Find your next furbaby at a shelter, not a mall or breeder. There are so many pure breeds at shelters, you just have to go look.
And remember, saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change that one animal's world.
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Great hub! Funny (not really funny, though!) I just read a hub tonight by Wesman on puppy mills. Makes me sick. And I love what you say about pet ownership being a life-time committment. It's too easy for too many people to just give up their pets. I don't understand it. Do you give up your child if your child gets too big or if your significant other doesn't like kids? I know that's different, but it's similar, too. Same with moving--DON't move anywhere that doesn't take pets. I can't imagine dropping off one of my cats or my best friend, Gizmo, (my dog) to a shelter, or even giving them to a friend. I like your last sentence, too. And pet owner's should remember, to our pets, we ARE their world. Great hub! Voted up in many categories!
Wonderful hub! I am a huge animal lover and I truly believe that some people shouldn't be allowed to raise pets. It sickens me all the hardships pets endure because of careless people and people looking to make a quick buck. Anyways, I definitely agree with you. Shelters are great places to find right pet, many people overlook the option.
What a beautiful hub! We have several hard-to-adopt rescues and wouldn't have it any other way!
Thanks Jenna! And good to hear about the rescues. To me they are the best companions!
Thank you so much for writing this hub. What you say is so true. It breaks my heart seeing all the lonely animals in shelters. They are beautiful creatures and are just lost without someone loving them. I know shelters take care of them but living in a shelter is just no way to live.
Your hub certainly touched my heart. As always, great work.
Thanks, Mara! Glad it could touch you. :-)
Dave,
Another great Hub! You'll be pleased to know that the animal shelter in the city where I live in Southern California is a *no-kill* shelter.
I love this hub! I really think that you can find EXACTLY what your looking for at the shelter AND save a life. I completely agree, too, that animal adoption should be for the animal's life. I have passed up opportunities to live abroad because I couldn't take my animals with me - that's how much I believe in the fact that once you take an animal on, it should be for their whole life. It kills me when an animal loves their "human" and the human gets rid of them. Voted up and SHARING.
So true. I got a great quote from you to use on folks now "And remember, saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change that one animal's world. " Voted up and Awesome!
Hey Dave, I can understand the message you want to convey in your hub here, but I am not sure if you understand the implications and other factors that are involved with regards to dogs and cats. I've had this discussion with others and I guess I am going to have it again with you. I don't like the fact that people do business unethically and yes these sort of people need to be stopped.
Getting a dog or cat from animals shelters are good and usually fairly priced. I know, I have two cats in my home and one of them was bought from the MSCPA(an animal shelters- state funded). The other wasn't but came from a broken home.
Having said that, dogs and cats out reproduce humans, so realistically, sooner or later, they collectively would grow enough to be a problem as far as space is concerned and NOT everyone can have animals. Dogs and cats were made domestic animals by humans, so people can have companionship. That is a given, but shelters MUST put down animals which are not adoptable. Not to mention, as someone else pointed out, not all places allow pets and for that reason shelters would also be over run with animals. Since these two particular animals breed more than humans, then taking strays off the streets and putting them into shelters is actually not saving them. The fact that humans choose to invade an animals life by pulling them from their environment and puts them into cages, is a sign of torture.
Nice hub, just unrealistic when you look at it from a worldwide view. I voted it up. I can understand as I said. I'm done.
thejeffriestube,
You have shared a very good idea. Thanks. Voted Up and shared.
Well written! I have always had cats from shelters or farms and can't imagine paying lots of money to get them from pet shops instead.
Dave, I adopted my dog Baby when she was 1, almost 12 years ago. She had already had four owners, because she's a chow mix and, as such, has a strong, stubborn temperament. We also have a labra doodle thst we bought from a breeder. I really wanna get a puppy, which is hard to find at a shelter, but i do know, like I do with my food, I will check out where ever I buy my pet next time I buy it, and not just buy it base don a whim.
I also hate all the excuses that you listed above. They make me so mad!
Dave,
Thanks for publishing this very important Hub.
The last line of your article reads "...saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change that one animal's world."
Saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change that one animal's world...and it will change your world, too, for the better.
Thanks for publishing this hub. Pet overpopulation is a big problem here in the US and the world over. It just makes sense to adopt rather buy from a pet store or a breeder. Spaying and neutering are also a part of responsible pet ownership. Thanks for highlighting this problem and some solutions!
JayeWisdom Level 7 Commenter 9 months ago
This is a very good hub, and I hope it gets a lot of traffic. So many people (especially children) who are lured into pet shops by the cute puppies don't realize the suffering that occurs in puppy mills. They also are not aware that any puppy they buy from a pet shop is likely to have health problems. The only way to stop puppy mills is to stop buying from pet shops!
I really like your last sentence. Very well stated.
Jaye