Adopting a pet from a shelter could potentially save his life.
Before you start your search for a pet, consider adoption. Because of the pet overpopulation problem, adoption is one of the ways to potentially save an animal's life and contribute to the solution. Only 18 percent of pets are adopted from animal shelters. This fact is most likely due to misconceptions about pounds and animal shelters. There are many reasons to adopt a pet from an animal shelter as opposed to purchasing one from a pet store or some other source.
Saving Lives
Approximately 3 to 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized annually due to overpopulation, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Because pounds have limited space, all too often the staff have to make the decision to end the life of an animal simply because there is not enough room to house all of the pets. When you adopt an animal from a shelter, you not only are potentially saving its life, you also are freeing up space so that another homeless pet can be rescued.
Expense
When you adopt a pet from an animal shelter, humane society or pound, you'll likely save more money than if you were to purchase one from a pet store or from some other source. Animal shelters usually examine pets and give vaccinations upon arrival, which can save money on future vet bills. Also, animal shelters generally spay or neuter pets that are old enough before adopting them out.
Purebred Pets
If you've decided against adoption because you've got your heart set on a purebred pet, think again. There are breed rescue organizations that specialize in specific breeds of cats and dogs. These organizations allow people to adopt pets that they have rescued. Also, although 70 to 75 percent of pets in animal shelters are mixed breeds, 25 to 30 percent of pets up for adoption in animal shelters are purebred (see Reference 2).
Health
Generally, many backyard dog breeders sell inbred pets and do not pay special attention to genetic problems that may occur as a result. Most pets in shelters are mixed breeds, and mixed breeds have less inbreeding and usually less inherited genetic diseases than dogs from backyard breeders and pet stores, which can make for fewer vet bills, according to AdoptAPet.com.
Training
Some humane societies and shelters offer training classes and behavioral counseling for pets in their care. Also, because some pets were previously owned and cared for, some have already been trained by their previous owners. Adopting a pre-trained pet from a humane society or animal shelter saves a lot of time and money when you consider the price for obedience school and pet-training services.
In addition to any training pets may already have, animal shelters usually screen the temperaments of the pets so that families have some idea of the animal's personality and background before buying it, which helps in deciding which pet would be best for their family.
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