Cats and dogs rely on us humans to care for them with food and water, shelter, companionship and more. Although thousands of animals are left without an owner all over the UK. Many of these animals end up curled up and abandoned on streets until they die of starvation or injury. The fortunate ones are kindly taken into an animal shelter, until the time comes when the building become too over populated and the unlucky ones, injured, sick or even old, get euthanised to create a space for more unwanted pets. There is a simple solution to this, adopt, don’t shop!
Personally, from someone who volunteers at a charity funded animal shelter run by two people who give up their time for over 170 different animals, who do not euthanise, I get to play with and walk around 20 or so dogs which have been abandoned on the streets, abused or just given away. Nobody wants to adopt these dogs, which baffles me as every single one of them are very well trained, excitable and willing to love. I used to think that buying dogs from breeders and pet shops was more realistic and didn’t have much of an opinion on it until volunteering at this sanctuary. Buying rather than adopting influences people to do unlicensed breeding and puppy mills, which creates the overpopulation issue. There is a simple solution to this, adopt, don’t shop!
Kitten and puppy mills are a type of “large-scale commercial dog and cat breeding facilities”. They are known to often house their puppies, kittens, cats and dogs in extremely dirty and unpleasant places, and they focus on the profit rather than the well-being of the animals. Also, dogs and cats that are raised in these cramped environments have a high possibility of becoming animals which find it difficult to interact with other animals and humans. Right after a female has given birth to a litter, she is taken away from her puppies too breed again and produce litter after litter. These puppies receive very little, if at any, veterinary care, vaccines and health checks. The litters go on to be sold at pet shops, online or newspapers, and is commonly advertised with “USDA-licensed”. It says licensed so it must be a well-cared for animal, right? Wrong, that sign only means that the seller has provided the minimum of food, water and shelter for the dog or, it doesn’t officialise that the breeder has met the proper needs and secured the health of the animal.
There are many reasons why you should adopt a dog or cat rather than buy from a breeder or pet shop. One of the main reasons is that if you buy from a shelter you are saving not one, but two lives. There are many reasons that people give up their pet. The most common reason is due to changes in the family situation. The life of the dog or cat you adopt and the life of the lucky animal that gets the empty space. Again, like mentioned before, many cats and dogs are euthanised to create spaces for other animals who may need it. The number of innocent, adoptable animals which get euthanised can drastically decrease if a lot more people purchase from the shelters.
Another reason is that adopting an animal can cost you a lot less money. The price of the puppy or kitten that you buy from pet shops or breeders come with little, if any, vaccinations and shots that they will most definitely need to prevent infection or diseases. The animals which enter the shelters will already be vaccinated and most likely micro chipped and spayed or neutered. So that is a couple less bills you will have to pay, and they are probably the most expensive too! Purchasing a dog from breeders can vary depending on the breed of dog, but the average is around £500. If you were to adopt, the dog would cost an average of around £100.
If you are adopting a dog or cat from a rescue centre, the people who work there can tell you exactly how they behave and how their personality is portrayed, so there won’t be a shock when you bring them home. In reality some people may think they have found their perfect pet at time, but then it turns out that it isn’t the best match and it doesn’t work out so the only option may be giving them away. Most adoption centres will take the animal back within a certain time period without any hassle.
The next reason is simple. Love. We all want to be loved, including animals. Starved, abandoned, abused, but patiently waiting for some love and affection. Over 100,000 animals in the UK alone, which all have the possibility to make just as many people overwhelmed with happiness for a lifetime and more.
Worried that the shelter won’t have the type of breed you have in mind? Don’t be, because animal adoption centres do not lack variety. From big to small; pure breeds to mutts; crazy excitable to submissive; young to old; these can all be combined, or separate. During 2017 the RSPCA, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals, rehomed 44,611 animals. That’s a lot of people who managed to find a pet that suited them perfectly. I’m sure you can find one too, especially since the outcome has a massive, amazing impact to you and your new pets.
These are only some of the main reasons on why you should adopt an animal and not buy from backyard breeders and pet shops. It prevents unnecessary euthanasia and cruel kitten and puppy mills. It provides unconditional love and happiness for both, adoptee and adopter. It’s less expensive and most importantly, it saves lives. Something that seems so simple and irrelevant can have a significant effect on many lives. Dogs and cats have the capability to become our life long best friends, so let’s be theirs.
2019-2-28-1551353959