Seven reasons pet adoption is as good as, if not better than breeding.

I recently volunteered at a local animal shelter, and when I walked into the back where the dogs were held, mixed emotions washed over me. Being a dog lover, I wasn’t sure what I was experiencing until after I left the shelter. At first I was in pure joy to get to spend some time with mans best friend (I live three and a half hours from home, so I hadn’t seen a dog in over a month). But looking back on it, it’s depressing how many domestic animals are in a shelter and out on the street.

Every time I have walked into a shelter, I could look at a dog and know what they’re thinking. The dogs that jump on the fence and run around seem to be the new ones, they haven’t been in the shelter for long, and grow exciting when people walk in. Then there are the once who calmly walk to the front of the fence, and look at you like “adopt me, please?” They are the experienced ones, they have been around the shelter for a while and know there is still hope, but don’t get overly excited. Lastly, there are the ones who lie in the kennel and don’t move unless you call them. They are the dogs who have been around the longest, and given up hope. After being let down time and time again, they grow content with their shelter life. It could be worse; they could be out on the street, or in a neglected/abusive home, and somehow they know that. They understand they might never see a loving home, and that is really distressing to me.

I would have liked to adopt all of the animals myself, but my college budget and my dorm rules doesn’t allow for that. So I wanted to do the next best thing- stress to people why they should adopt rather than going to a breeder or pet store. Here are seven reasons supporting adoption.

1. 20-30% of dogs in shelters are pure bred.

To those who refuse to adopt because they have to have a pure bred, almost a third of shelter dogs are, in fact, pure bred. The average litter-count for a commonly sought after pure bred, the German shepherd, is eight. That means there is eight chances for that dog to go to an unsuitable home, that may end up in a shelter. The common misconception is that all shelter dogs are mutts, and that is simply false.

2. Shelter dogs are not damaged.

One mindset people possess is that all shelter dogs are damaged or broken in some way, and that is why they landed in a shelter. Again, false. Most animals wind up in shelters because owners either cannot afford them anymore, move to a place that doesn’t allow animals, has allergies to pet, or just plain doesn’t have time to dedicate to the animal.

3. Shelter dogs are ready to go

Most shelter animals, including the ones in Lenawee County Humane Society, have been spayed/neutered, and are up to date on all shots and heartworm medication. This makes adopting much more cost effective than paying a breeder, or even getting a free animal from friends/family.

4. You know what you’re getting

Despite another misconception that adopting is luck of the draw; shelter animals have history. The shelter will record their behavior while in their hands, or have previous history from the owner who brought the animal, and why they brought them.

5. Many pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills.

It’s impossible for any human being to be cruel to a puppy, right? Well, if you Google “the truth behind puppy mills,” the results are quite sickening. Puppy mills are in the business purely for profit, and they don’t give a damn about the dogs. According to thepuppymillproject.org, approximately 2.5million puppies are born in puppy mills annually, and “Documented puppy mill conditions include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages and lack of socialization. Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years in continual confinement. They are bred as often as possible and then destroyed or discarded once they can no longer produce puppies.”

6. Millions of pets are put down due to lack of homes

The Humanesociety,org reports over 2.7million dogs are euthanized every year. If shelters are taking in millions of dogs yearly, and putting many of them down, why are dogs still bred in masses? I couldn’t find a logical answer, so if you can think of one, please leave it in the comments section below.

7. Know you WILL change a life

Knowing you saved a life is one of the most euphoric, heartwarming feelings we can experience. By adopting an animal, you have saved a life.

So there you have it—seven reasons to give an animal a second chance. Just remember, as Josh Billings said, “a dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

For more information to adopt a pet at the Lenawee Humane Society, contact them at:

Their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/lenaweehumanesociety

Their website: http://www.lenhumanesoc.org