adopt a pet

Adopt A Shelter Dog

If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry companion to your household, consider adopting a dog from your local animal shelter instead of your local pet store. Pet stores normally buy their puppies from puppy mills where profit is more important than the animal’s health.

I know it’s hard to resist ooohhing and awwwing over the adorable puppies and kittens you see at the pet store, but if you knew the story behind where they came from you would reconsider making a purchase from there. Pet stores buy their animals from puppy and kitten mills. These mills pump out as many animals as they can while keeping the animals in horrible conditions. Dogs are kept in cages solely to breed and are not even taken out to stretch their legs. Some dogs live to be 8-10 years old while living in these conditions. A whole litter of puppies are kept in a small cage with no room to move around. The conditions of the cages are often dirty and many animals develop health problems because of the filth they live in.

Many dogs that are bought from pet stores have behavioral problems that stem from the conditions of the puppy mills. Puppy mills are straight up abusive and the dogs there are treated as a product. Dogs from puppy mills also develop health problems from inter breeding. When you buy your pet from a pet store you are indirectly supporting this abuse.

With all the dogs that are in the pound and shelters that face being put to sleep, it makes no sense to me why we need puppy mills or pet stores. There are an over abundance of dogs due to people not getting their dog fixed and spayed. An estimated 6 to 8 million dogs and cats are put in shelters every year and 3 to 4 millions of those animals are euthanized. Dog and cat overpopulation is a major problem, but when you adopt from a certified shelter you are saving a life. And when you get your animal fixed and spayed you are saving many potential lives.

Sure most of the dogs at the pound are not cute little puppies anymore and most are muts, but who cares? Did you know that muts generally are healthier than full breeds. And a puppy will not be a puppy forever so why not get an older dog?
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If you are considering adopting a pet make sure you can commit long term! Make sure you can afford it because having a pet can be expensive when you consider vaccines, vet visits, grooming, food and pet care. Also be certain you can have a pet where you live. Many people get a pet before they find out if the place they rent allows it. This is another reason animals are put in shelters. Having a dog is like having a kid. They need walks and lots of love which will take up time out of your day so make sure you have the time!

If you do have the time and the room for a fluffy friend then head down to your local animal shelter to see all the animals waiting to be loved. And if you still don’t believe me, check out the video below to see