9781422272992

“Many of the animals that we take in are here because of an issue their families couldn’t resolve, but one that has nothing to do with the animal’s temperament or behavior.” The Humane Society of the United States says that “Each year, it’s estimated that more than one million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and too few people consider adoption when looking for a pet. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. When you adopt, you save a loving animal by making them part of your family and open up shelter space for another animal who might desperately need it.” The Benefits of Adopting a Dog There are a number of other benefits associated with adopting a dog. One of the biggest is the knowledge that you will not be contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. This issue is perpetuated when you purchase a puppy from a pet store, as most come from puppy mills. According to veterinarian Elizabeth Berliner, “Puppy mill dogs have higher rates of inherited and infectious diseases, and the mothers of these puppies often suffer from inhumane breeding practices and inadequate care.” By refusing to purchase a puppy sourced from a mill or other irresponsible breeding practices, you will not be giving these businesses an incentive to keep producing puppies. Another benefit of rescuing a dog is that you can adopt one of any age. There are many pros to adopting an older dog. For instance, you can get a better idea of what your new canine companion’s personality is like. Adopting an older dog also means you get to skip the time-intensive puppy stage. However, if you do want a puppy, shelters and rescues frequently have puppies available from accidental litters and stray dogs.

Saving a Dog’s Life Through Adoption

13