10 Reasons To Adopt, Not Shop

Millions of animals are in desperate need of a safe, loving home, so much so that an entire holiday — National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day – was founded to draw attention to their plight. Now rescue advocates gather once a year on April 30 to remind America’s prospective pet parents that U.S. shelters are actually chock full of cute, healthy, and perfectly adoptable cats and dogs. Are you looking for a good reason to adopt, not shop? We’ve actually got ten for you.

10. Give Homeless Animals A Second Chance

Six to eight million dogs and cats enter the U.S. shelter system each year, according to The Humane Society. But almost half of those animals will be euthanized due to lack of space and funding.

9. You Can Save A Life

Of the 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters every year, approximately eighty percent, or 2.4 million, of those animals were healthy candidates for adoption whose lives could have been saved had they simply found new homes.

8. Break The Cycle of Animal Cruelty

Buying from pet stores or breeders might seem innocent, but many of the puppies and kittens for sale actually victims of puppy/kitten mills, which repeatedly impregnating female dogs to maximize their profit with multiple litters, removing young puppies from their mother, and storing unsold “product” in tiny cages without adequate food, water, or opportunities for socialization.

7. Save Money

Adopting cats and dogs generally requires a modest fee, but the cost is merely a fraction of the price tag associated with buying a for-profit pet. Moreover, shelter adoption fees simply aim to recover basic veterinary costs, such as spaying, neutering, and vaccination, that you might otherwise have to pay for yourself.

6. Save Time, Energy, and Your Couch

Training puppies requires a significant investment of energy and time, but chances are good the adult dogs at your local shelter — many of whom simply found themselves there after their original owners moved away — are already house-trained. (Plus, they’re less inclined to chew up/scratch the furniture than their younger counterparts).

5. Vast Selection

Searching for the perfect pet? Shelters are chock full of dogs and cats – sometimes even birds, horses, or other animals – of all ages, sizes, types, and temperaments, while pet stores carry a more limited selection.

4. It Helps The Whole Community

Your local animal shelter provides a valuable community service in helping keep homeless dogs and cats off the streets. Adopting from your local animal shelter is a great way to support their vital mission.

3. Good Karma

There are plenty of good reasons to adopt, not shop, as you can see from the list above! But there’s nothing quite like seeing your fur-baby’s adoption inspire a friend or family member to do the same. Plus, karma knows no bounds.

2. Find Your New BFF

Every rescued pet has a different story, but pet parents often describe their rescues are more loyal, affectionate, and grateful than other animals – perhaps because they know you’ve saved their life. If you’re looking for a four-legged friend to shower you with unlimited love and devotion, get yourself to your local animal shelter, STAT.

1. Join The Movement

Even if you can’t adopt a shelter pet, you can still support The Animal Rescue Site’s mission. Your daily clicks and shopping at The Animal Rescue Site Store help us fund free food for hungry shelter pets, while your generous donations have helped us fly rescued pets from disaster zones and provide sick/injured animals with life-saving care. Thank you for helping us help needy animals!

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J. Swanson is a writer, traveler, and animal-enthusiast based in Seattle, an appropriately pet-crazed city where dog or cat ownership even outweighs the number of kids. When the weather permits, she likes to get outside and explore the rest of the Pacific Northwest, always with a coffee in hand.
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