Why Adopt Not Shop?

Thinking of adding a dog or cat to your family? Here are five reasons why adopting a rescue is the only way to go.

1. Adoption saves lives

It is estimated that each year in the United States alone 3 million healthy dogs and cats are euthanized because many people choose not to adopt and space within shelters is limited. This number would be reduced dramatically if more people rescued pets instead of buying them from a pet store or breeder. By adopting from a humane society, private animal shelter, or rescue group, you will help save the lives of two animals; the pet you adopt, and another pet who can be rescued because of the space freed up. 

2. Pets available for adoption are healthy and well behaved

Shelters are filled with sweet natured, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. These facilities examine, vaccinate, spay or neuter and microchip pets prior to adoption. In addition to medical care, they also screen animals for specific temperaments and behavior to make sure families find the right pet for their lifestyle. These animals aren’t poorly behaved cast offs. It is a common misconception that animals end up in shelters because they've been abused or because they’ve done something wrong. However, it is mainly life events like a divorce, a move, or lack of time, or financial reasons why pets lose their homes.

3. Adopting saves you money

Adopting a pet is much less expensive than buying a pet through a pet store or breeder. Adoption costs range from $50 to $300, while buying a pet can cost up to $5000. Plus, an adopted pet is already vaccinated, spayed or neutered and microchipped, which makes the shelter’s fee a bargain. Have your heart set on a specific breed? Even purebred pets are given up for adoption. Search the Wagtopia nationwide rescue database here. (link)

4. You can shop around for your perfect pet

There are millions of healthy, well-behaved animals in our database waiting for a home. Adopted pets are just as loving, intelligent, and loyal as purchased pets. There are small ones, large ones, fluffy ones, shorthaired ones, active ones, couch potatoes, young ones and older ones. Although puppies and kittens are adorable, they can require a lot of work to train. An adult or older pet may be a better fit for you. Adopting an adult dog that is already house trained and knows basic commands is much easier than adopting a puppy. 

5. You won't be supporting puppy mills or the websites and pet stores that source from them

Puppy mills are factory style breeding facilities that put profit above welfare. Most pet stores or online puppy “breeders” sell puppies under the guise that they were bred by a responsible breeder in a loving home, however this is simply not the case. Pet stores and websites touting adorable puppies are a huge part of the puppy mill problem. 

Animals raised in puppy mills are housed in awful conditions with little to no medical care. The parents are kept in cages and bred over and over for years, without hope of ever being loved or cared for. After they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are killed or abandoned. Puppy mill puppies are sold to unsuspecting consumers and pet stores, retailers like hardware stores, online, and through newspaper classified ads to anyone willing to pay for them. Marketed that they are from great breeders, these sales tactics keep money flowing to the puppy mills. Buyers never get to see where the puppies are bred. These puppies can have serious behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent for months. Including medical problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if they are treatable at all. Having pet insurance might help cover some of your bills, but unfortunately, many people are not aware that puppy mills exist or are tricked by lies, so when they buy a pet from a pet store, online or other retail outlet, they are unwittingly supporting this cruel industry. 

By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you aren't supporting the cruelty of puppy mills. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing from their sources. Instead of buying a pet, visit our rescue database where you will find thousands of healthy, well-socialized puppies, kittens, and adult pets just waiting for that special home. Yours!