Finding a Life-time Companion at your Local Animal Shelter

Finding a Life-Time Companion at Your Local Animal Shelter

There are many Advantages and Rewards when you adopt your animal from a Shelter!

First of all, adopting a pet at a reputable shelter is absolutely the right thing to do. You are helping an animal that might otherwise be put to sleep or may not find a suitable home. I’m assuming you’re an animal lover and are looking for a companion, friend, and family member, and probably know shelter dogs have a reputation for being grateful, and in time loving members of your pack. After all, they know what it is like to be homeless, and animals, like people, want to be part of a loving family.

Animal shelters are organized to address a serious problem across the country. We have an over population of dogs and cats worldwide, leaving many animals abandoned, neglected, and abused. The Humane Society estimates that shelters are forced to euthanize 6-8 million cats and dogs each year. The suffering of animals is of great concern to society, and the financial burden is also great. Shelters are non-profit organizations, and rely on donations, memberships, and adoptions to continue to operate. To find nearby shelters, Pet Finder is an excellent resource! Petfinder.com

Shelters are staffed with individuals dedicated to alleviating the suffering of animals and trained in the basics of animal care. Before you adopt a pet, the shelter gives the pet a clean bill of health, provides spaying, neutering, shots, treatment to remove parasites, and often a microchip.

Animal Shelters can provide you with valuable resources and information on caring for your pet. They can also provide background on the animal you have chosen to adopt. Volunteers at shelters often become acquainted with the history and behavior of the pet’s they care for on a daily basis and can offer insight into the animal’s behavior, background, or areas that may be challenging for owners.

For a small fee the adoption is completed. Purchasing pets from puppy mills not only supports an often unhealthy and cruel industry, but is often costly. Purchasing a pet from a store or breeder can also be expensive. And, when you adopt a dog from a shelter the cost is not only less, but you know your money is going to support the good work of your local shelter! You may have even saved a life.

You are not supporting the Puppy Mill industry when you purchase from a shelter.

With a serious overpopulation problem and an abundance of homeless pets, puppy mills continue to breed animals for profit, often housing them in unhealthy and sometimes cruel environments. Puppies and dogs are usually caged with little human contact or contact with other animals, and receive little socialization. These operations continue only because there is a market for them.

Many wonderful mixed breeds are available at shelters. Purchasing a natural cat or dog, not a purebred, often has advantages, such as, the avoidance of physical and behavioral problems that may be common in purebred animals. For example, breeds prone to hip dysplasia, when mixed with other breeds, may not be prone to that malady.

25% of shelter dogs (the Humane Society estimates) are purebreds. If you are in love with a particular breed, you can often find your favorite pure-bred at a shelter.

While there may be some challenges with animals that have be abused or neglected, most shelter animals are extremely grateful you have chosen them to be a part of your pack, and will reward you with love and loyalty for life.

You can chose from such wide variety of animals of all ages, sizes, and breeds, it’s easy to find a perfect match for your lifestyle and preferences.