Dog Lists

Top Ten Reasons to Adopt Your New Furry Friend!

1. You save many lives. Not only do you save the life of the animal you adopt, you will get an animal that is spayed or neutered, which means no unwanted litters to end up at an animal control facility.

2. You get more choices. Shelters often have lots of different breeds available at any given time. (And you can choose from a myriad of rescue organizations dedicated to specific breeds as well.) Also, the ages of the available animals will vary.

3. You won’t be supporting puppy mills. Heinous puppy factory farms will have one less customer to feed their reprehensible business.  They produce the worst amalgam of health issues, paying no attention to the physical condition, medical needs, and mental state of their “products”, nor are the female dogs,  forced into a constant state of pregnancy for the duration of their lives, cared for or even let out of their cages.  Why would anyone want to support such cruel behavior by spending their money In a pet shop?

4. You get more for your money.  Shelter animals are fully vaccinated, spay/neutered, in some cases micro-chipped, and heartworm tested.

5. People who have pets often live longer. Researchers theorize it’s because pets reduce the levels of stress hormones in their human companions. Pets also lower blood pressure, and because they provide unquestioning love, the peace of mind that results from that relationship

6.  You become an active participant in preventing cruelty to animals.  The Oprah show on puppy mills made it very clear to all that even if unwittingly, pet shops selling pets get their animals from puppy mills.  You can erase this practice by making different choices.

7.  Shelters are not the scary places they used to be! Many provide added services. The progress that has been made over the past decade in sheltering practices means that many shelters offer their “temporary residents” basic training, so they are at least familiar with the concept of being on leash, and the concept of “sit” and “walk”  Some shelters are set up so that daycare, kenneling, and grooming are available.  Volunteer opportunities exist—meet new people and extend your network!

8.  Shelters, good ones, always want their animals returned to them, not to some other facility, should a problem arise.  Try that with a pet shop!  You won’t get any substantive guarantees.

9.  Shelters will know the dog or cat, their personalities, their favorite toys, sometimes their dislikes.  New puppy’s personalities are unknown.  And while puppies are darn cute, they require that someone be home all day to care for them.  If you are getting a puppy just to leave him or her in a cage all day, you will have a heck of time training that dog and may grow to really dislike the lack of results.  It is also not at all advisable to cage a puppy all day long.

10.  Shelters are part of the community and work to save lives every day.  They are there to serve the animals and match them to the best possible homes.  Adopt—It’s a Matter of Life.

Don’t Regret Adopting a Pet!  5 Signs You Are Not Ready for A Lifetime Commitment

1. Your lifestyle is not set up for a pet. People who travel constantly or work extremely long hours will not usually have time for a pet. Who will care for your pet when you’re away? How long will he be stuck home alone each day? Will you be too tired to take him for a walk after you’ve worked a long day? Do you have time to train him properly?

2. You don’t have enough money to care for a pet. The adoption fee is just the beginning of the financial commitment. Food and vet care are the more significant ongoing costs. There are monthly heartworm medications and flea preventatives, not to mention annual vaccinations and licenses, even unexpected trips to the vet that can really add up. How will you pay to treat an ear infection? What if your pet is injured and requires surgery?

3. You can’t make a long-term commitment. Many pets can live 10, 15, even 20 years. Are you still going to want him when she pees on your expensive carpet, when he chews up your favorite pair of pricey shoes?  If you must move or transfer, are you willing to limit yourself to places where pets are allowed? If you start a family, do you fully intend to keep your furry friend and arranging your life so that there’s room for both baby and Fifi?

4. You have no idea what kind of pet to get. If you haven’t taken the time to do a little research, you probably aren’t prepared for a pet. It’s important to know what breed best fits within your current lifestyle and space. Do you have a big house with a fenced backyard, or do you have a studio apartment? Do you like to take 3-mile walks every day, or do you want a dog who’ll sit on your lap while you watch TV?

5. You just can’t wait to get a pet. Maybe you think your friend’s dog is awfully cute and are dying for one of your own. Maybe you’ve fallen for a pleading pair of eyes and want to take home that particular dog or cat today. If you’re not willing to wait at least a few days for the adoption process required by most shelters and rescue groups, you’re probably acting too impulsively. Take some time to think. There’s a life at stake.

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