Some people wonder why they should adopt a dog or cat from the shelter when there are plenty of cute puppies and kittens that can be purchased. There are plenty of reasons to adopt a cat or dog from a shelter, but before heading out to your local facility, make sure you're familiar with the facility's policies. This is according to Vet Street, which is a website run by veterinarians.
They recommend that you do your research before heading to the shelter. Fill out the application with the name of everyone living in the home. They also require veterinarian information on file.
Renters will need to provide landlord approval. The shelter wants to make sure the animal is going to a stable home situation where they can live the rest of their life.
Here is a list of 20 incredible reasons why you should consider adopting your first pet.
Adopting a Pet Will Save Lives
The ASPCA reports that approximately 7.6 million animals enter shelters each year while almost 3 million of those animals are euthanized. Many of the animals ended up in the shelter because they were lost or abandoned.
They might be at a shelter that can't keep them indefinitely. When you adopt a pet from a shelter, you are literally saving an animal's life.
A Pet Adopted from a Shelter Stops Breeding Facilities
When a dog or cat is purchased from a shelter and not a backyard breeder or puppy mill, it decreases the opportunity for greed. Paws.org says breeders will stop trying to breed as many dogs as possible to get cute, little puppies for people to buy.
When less people are searching for puppies online or on classified ads, the puppy mills will have no choice but to stop breeding puppies.
An Adult Animal Finds a Home
Puppies and kittens are adorable, so adult dogs aren't as sought after among potential pet owners. Potential pet owners don't search classifieds for adult dogs, so they end up in the shelter when they're unwanted.
Anyone who can't care for an adult dog anymore won't likely be able to put an advertisement in the newspaper or in the classifieds to get their dog a new home. That dog is abandoned at the shelter instead.
Adopting at the Shelter Offers a Great Resource
The volunteers at the shelter want you to provide a great home for an animal. They're willing to help you find information and resources for your new pet long after you've brought them home.
They'll have the answers you're looking for if there are problems with your new pet too. They can recommend vets and training in the area in case there are problems with the animal adjusting to their new environment.
You Choose From Great Animals
A puppy may be cute, but you don't know what you're getting with a puppy later as it grows. With adult dogs, you know exactly what kind of dog he'll grow into being. You'll know his size, coat thickness and temperament because you'll be able to see him.
The shelter will allow you to meet more than one dog to find the one that is suitable for you and your home. They'll often encourage you to bring everyone who will be living in the house to see and pick a dog.
An Animal Who Has Received Shots and Medical Care
With a puppy or kitten, you'll have to bring them to the vet for shots and spaying or neutering. Some breeds end up with medical conditions that can cost a lot of money in the future. Shelters will have given your new animal a thorough examination, provided shots as well as spaying or neutering the animal before you're allowed to take it home.
Many abandoned animals are not spayed or neutered, and they might not have received their shots until the shelter vet takes a look at them. According to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, spaying and neutering helps to control the pet overpopulation we have in this country.
Bypass the Destructive Puppy or Kitty Phase
With a shelter pet, you're skipping over the hard parts of bringing an animal home. They won't destroy your home by biting, chewing or scratching furniture as they start the teething process.
Puppies can be incredibly destructive since they explore with their mouths. As a puppy or kitten plays, they will use their teeth too. This is a part of training that isn't always pleasant for puppy and kitten owners.
You'll Pay Less for a Shelter Pet
While some baby animals can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, the adoption fee when you adopt a dog will cover the shelter's cost of housing the animal. The low adoption fee isn't meant for the shelter to make a profit like the animals sold by puppy mills.
Some breeds of puppies can sell for thousands, and there's no guarantee that they are the pure breed that some people think they're buying. A shelter pet is often a mixture of breeds, but they're adorable anyway.
It'll Inspire Other People to Adopt
Every time a person adopts from a shelter, they are showing their friends and family how great a shelter animal can be. That cute animal video on social media is likely the result of a dog or cat adoption.
It's almost your duty as the owner of a shelter rescued animal to tell everyone how great your animal is, and how the dog or cat came to live with you. It'll inspire others, and it also crushes stereotypes that paint shelter dogs and cats negatively.
You're Supporting a Charity
There are thousands of shelters across the country that need the support of the local community. With your money, you're gaining a pet, but you're also supporting a facility that makes it possible to find other animals' homes.
Many times people don't really understand the needs of the shelter until they visit personally. After adoption, you might decide to continue your relationship by donating food and other supplies that shelters desperately need. The Humane Society says they need the fees for care, medications and boarding of the animal among other things.
There's Bragging Rights Involved
When you adopt an abandoned dog or cat, you'll be able to tell people how much you're doing for the community. You'll feel good that you've been able to do something great in the world.
When you tell people you rescued an abandoned pet from certain death, you'll feel like the hero you definitely are.
An Adult Dog or Cat is House Trained
Bringing home an adult animal means that you're missing out on the trying times of teaching the animal to be house trained. You'll have to learn the signs that your dog needs to be walked, but that's easy when you walk them frequently.
That's 6 months worth of cleaning that won't be required. The Humane Society recommends establishing a routine for puppies during house training. That will help with adult dogs who are new to the home too.
Adoption is Environmentally Responsible
If you care about the environment, the amount of stray cats and dogs as well as the amount of animals in shelters has to be alarming to you. When you adopt a pet, you'll be doing your part to help the environment.
As other people ask about your animal, you can mention how many more pets are there to be adopted too.
That Animal's World Will Instantly Change
While they do their best to care for animals in the shelter, it's definitely not the same as having a loving home. You can see in this YouTube video below exactly how all dogs feel after they've been adopted and taken out of the shelter.
Some might be too timid to do this happy dance, but inside, they're feeling the same.
Their Personality Shines
Puppies and kitten are adorable and tiny, but you can't tell anything about their personalities yet. You don't know if they will be shy, boisterous, loving or clever.
With adult dogs, you can find the one that will fit in with you and your family perfectly. If you're active, you'll be able to find an adult dog who will love to run with you or take long hikes in the woods.
Frees Shelter Space for Other Animals
Unfortunately, there are plenty of animals that need space in the shelter. When you adopt, you're freeing space for another animal to potentially be adopted into a loving home like yours.
With limited amount of space, animals need to be adopted quickly, and when you adopt yours, you can tell everyone you know to head to the shelter too.
They're Assessed for Temperament
Often, adult dogs in the shelter were dropped there by people who had them since they were puppies. You won't know what kind of home they're coming from, but the shelter will have staff who will assess them for suitability for families or single people.
Some dogs can't handle loud situations or small children. The shelter will be able to steer you to the right dog for your home.
Role Model for Your Kids
When you adopt an animal from the shelter, you're being a role model for your children. It can be turned into a learning experience especially when you explain why you're not getting them a puppy or kitten.
When they grow up, they'll likely adopt animals from the shelter too. It becomes a legacy you've passed down to future generations.
Older Dogs are Perfect for Older People
There are times when older dogs come into the shelter. They've lost their owners due to death or medical conditions. Those dogs are calm and settled because they were previously owned by older people.
This makes them great for people who want a dog, but are a bit too old for a boisterous young dog. Cesar Millan believes that adopting older dogs will save their lives.
Adopted Pets Have Unconditional Love
It doesn't matter what has happened in an animal's life. They're often more forgiving and loving than people would be in the same situation.
They can come from abuse, neglect and living in the shelter to become one of the most loving animals on the planet. There's nobody that can love you unconditionally like an animal adopted from a shelter.
Will you adopt your first pet today?
There are many reasons to adopt an animal from your local shelter. This was just twenty of them including the ability to save an animal's life, gain a living thing that will give you unconditional love and be a role model for your children.
You might have been thinking about adoption by number 5 on the list, and you will definitely be adding a loving member of your family.
