Why adopting a pet is better

A pet is a companion that will never judge you, will love you regardless of whatever happens and will always be there. As well as making you feel great, their unconditional love raises your self-esteem because of the affection they show you. It is said that animals know when they have been rescued, so the bond between you and your rehomed pet will be especially strong. Although you may have an idea of what you are looking for, there are a wide variety of animals waiting to be adopted from shelters.

This may mean an animal you would never have imagined could turn out to be the best match for you. Therefore, it is always important to have an open mind when visiting shelters. Many people want to adopt puppies and kittens without considering the advantages of having an older pet. If trained in their previous home they will be less likely to destroy furniture than a younger pet, and as such, will probably require less supervision.

Older pets are often calmer and quite happy to sit in your company rather than demanding constant attention. They also have more developed personalities than puppies or kittens, so it may be more apparent when visiting them at the shelter whether or not you are suited.

Spaying and neutering animals is important in controlling the animal population. Adopting an animal from a shelter means that your new pet has been spayed or neutered where possible. Insuring your pet gives you peace of mind that you and your pet will be covered if anything were to happen. Animal Friends offer a wide range of policies for you to choose from. Hello, fellow animal lovers! Most shelters and rescue groups also showcase their pets online, which makes it easy to get an idea of what animals are there waiting for homes.

Beyond city and county animal shelters, most areas also have nonprofit organizations some large and some small that have dogs and cats for adoption. One great reason for adopting a pet instead of buying one is that, typically, pets for adoption from shelters and rescue groups are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

Those services can cost hundreds of dollars, and when you adopt a pet, you not only save a life, you save a lot of money. Instead of looking for, say, small dogs for sale, think about looking for small dogs for adoption.

If there are lots of purebred or designer dogs and cats available with more coming all the time , or if the pets all come from breeders, then that is not adoption. The animals could be from mills, as are most all animals from pet stores and online pet sellers.

Purebred dogs and designer dogs were once a popular choice for people interested in getting a new pet. But times have changed, and now more than ever people are heading to shelters or rescue groups in search of a puppy or adult dog to bring home. To many people, a puppy for sale might not seem all that different than puppies for adoption, but the truth is that when you choose to buy from a dog breeder, pet store or anywhere else, it has a lasting impact— and not in a good way.

When you choose to adopt a pet instead of buy one, you can not only find adorable, unique, fun, sweet dogs and cats at local shelters and animal rescue groups, but you also become part of the solution to the homeless pet problem. When people choose to buy a pet instead of adopt, they are part of the problem.

And it can be even worse if someday those purchased pets who are almost never spayed or neutered at purchase have litters of puppies or kittens. Now more than ever before, people have learned the truth behind pet stores and puppy mills. Any store that has pups for sale likely gets them from puppy breeders that are very different from what people imagine.

Instead of a cozy home where the breeding dogs live as pets, puppies for sale in pet stores come from commercial dog breeders, also known as puppy mills.

Learn more about puppy mills. At Best Friends we recommend that people choose adoption from a shelter or rescue group rather than buying from a breeder. Seeing cute dogs for sale might make it tempting to buy dogs online or from a pet store, but a quick search on one of many pet finder sites will show that there are adorable dogs as well as cats, kittens and puppies waiting for homes in shelters and rescue groups.

Mill animals are sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores, over the Internet, and through newspaper classified advertisements. By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain that you aren't supporting puppy or kitten mills.

Although puppies and kittens are cute, they can require a lot of work to train. An adult or older pet that is already trained may be a better fit for your lifestyle. For example, adopting an adult dog that is already housetrained and knows basic commands is often much easier than adopting a puppy. However, rescue groups do provide support for new owners because keeping pets in good homes is in the best interest of these groups.

Search for adoptable pets on Web sites like Petfinder. By adopting from your local shelter or rescue, you are giving back to your community instead of helping cruel breeders profit. Life is full of stresses, but your rescue dog is always there to listen. Taking some time to destress with your furry friends can help you unwind and keep you at peace.

Getting out there with your pet can also help you make new human friends, too! What could be better than having a lifelong friend?