When many people are considering adding a new pet to the family, they often debate whether they should adopt or buy. Adopting offers several amazing benefits for both the animal and the owner. Here are 20 reasons you might want to adopt when getting your next pet.
1. Save a Life
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Adopting a pet saves an animal in need. Millions of healthy and adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized every year in the US because of the overwhelming number of animals that are admitted to shelters. Cats and dogs that live in loving homes are also found to live longer compared to stray animals. Adopting a pet from a shelter can give an animal a second chance at life.
2. They Make Great Pets
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Pets from shelters and rescue groups are normally put there because their owner could no longer take care of them for various reasons such as financial burden, moving or divorce. It’s not usually an animals fault for being in the shelter. There are so many great animals that are just waiting to be adopted into their forever home!
3. It’s Cheaper
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Adopting a pet comes at a much cheaper price than buying from a pet store or breeder. Buying a new puppy or kitten can cost hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars! Adoption costs can range anywhere from $50-$200. The adoption fees also include the cost of spay or neuter, vaccinations and microchipping! Animal shelters also have several free adoption events throughout the year as well as sponsored adoptions.
4. Help Fight Puppy Mills
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Buying a dog from a pet store almost guarantees you to be getting a puppy that comes from a puppy mill. Puppy mills are places where dogs are bred constantly to produce more puppies to sell to pet stores for a profit. The moms are kept in small cages and don’t receive proper medical care or any human companionship. They are often sick and tend to have behavioral problems because of this. Once a mom dog is no longer able to breed they are sometimes killed or abandoned. As long as people are still buying from pet stores, puppy mills will remain in business. By adopting a pet, you can ensure that you are not supporting puppy mills.
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5. Training
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Most pets that are adopted from shelters are already potty trained. Dogs from shelters also know basic commands such as sit, stay or come. Adopting a pet that is already house trained saves so much time as well as a less stressful introduction period. These animals are also well socialized from being around workers, visitors and other animals staying in the shelter.
6. Good for Your Health
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Owning a pet has many physical and mental health benefits. Having a dog requires taking them out for walks which gives you a reason to get outside and get moving. Having animals can also improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and even social lives! Taking care of a loving pet can also give owners a sense of purpose and lower feelings of loneliness and depression.
7. Helps More Than One Animal
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Adopting an animal from a shelter doesn’t just save the life of one pet, it helps all the other animals in the shelter. By adopting, that is one more open space for another animal in need to have a temporary home. Overcrowding is a major problem in most shelters so they don’t have enough kennel space or workers, volunteers or supplies to be able to properly take care of them.
8. Change Their Life
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Adopting a pet gives them a second chance. Being stuck in a shelter can be stressful and can even cause anxiety in animals. Adopting a dog or cat can change their life by being in a home surrounded by people who love them.
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9. More Information on the Animals
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Pet stores don’t normally provide any information on a new puppy. They don’t know how they react to certain situations or if they’re good with other animals. Animals that have spent time in a shelter have been socialized. The workers know if a pet is good with kids or other animals so you know if they would be a good fit with your family. Shelters also know about prior health problems and can teach a potential adoptive family how to care for them.
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10. Healthier Animals
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Every animal that comes into a shelter gets a checkup and full physical done by a veterinarian. Animals in shelters are also closely monitored and tended to if any health issues arise. Staff makes sure that all animals are in good health before they are ready to be put up for adoption. Many pet stores or breeders do not offer any veterinary services like a shelter does.
11. Choose Age of Pets
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Not everyone has the time to train and care for a brand new puppy or kitten. Fortunately, at a shelter you have several choices. They have animals that range from puppy/kitten to senior animal. Adopting an animal from a shelter allows you to choose what age range is the best fit for your family.
12. Shelter Services
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Many shelters offer several services that can be used after you take your furry friend home. Besides the adoption process, many shelters also offer training sessions. They also have veterinary services and an animal hospital if you need it in the future.
13. Lifetime Source
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You will probably have a lot of questions when adopting a dog or cat. Shelter staff will always be there to answer any of the questions you have throughout the adoption process and even after you take them home. The shelter is a good source to have while your pet grows up.
14. Sleepover Program
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Most shelters offer a sleepover program. This program gives you the opportunity to take a potential dog or cat home with you for a few nights to see how the act at home. This gives everyone the opportunity to get to know the perspective pet and see if they are a good fit so you can be prepared when you make a final decision.
15. Purebred Options
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Many people have their heart set on a particular breed of dog they want and don’t believe they can find a purebred animal in the shelter. Many shelters do offer a waitlist program in case they receive an animal of a purebred that you can sign up for. Another option is to adopt a rescue. There is a rescue program for almost every breed that you can adopt from as well.
16. Shop Around for the Perfect Pet
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Adopting a animal from a shelter gives you the time to find the perfect pet for you. You can have the opportunity to meet and socialize with several different options until you find one you really connect with. Shelter staff are also looking for the perfect family for the animals as well. They want to make sure the dog or cat and potential family are compatible with each other.
17. Variety of Animals
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There is such a wide variety of different dogs and cats at a shelter that you are able to find one that’s perfect for you. There are several different options of the ages of animals from puppy or kitten to adult dog or cat. There are also dogs and cats of all sizes. They have animals that are super small when full grown as well as some that are huge! Besides age and size, there are also so many breeds to choose from. Another way these animals are all so diverse is their personality. No two animals are the same. They have some energetic animals or couch potatoes. Everything is so unique to each animal it’s almost impossible to not find a pet that is the perfect fit.
18. Unconditional Love
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As with any pet, an animal from a shelter will provide you unconditional love. Adopted animals are so happy and grateful to be in a home with loving owners that they will always love you.
19. Break the Cycle of Pet Overpopulation
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Animals that are adopted from a shelter have always been spayed or neutered. This help stops pet overpopulation throughout the country. The reason there are so many euthanizations of healthy animals in shelters is because of the overpopulation.
20. You Feel Good
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Adopting a pet makes you feel good. Besides the fact of having a new animal to love, you feel like you did a good thing. You DID do a good thing. Animals in shelters are just as cute, sweet and loving as animals from a pet store or breeder.
