Pet Adoption: Why Adopt from a Shelter?

By Jolene Miklas

Animal Friends


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Experts agree: pets are good for us! Pets bring love and laughter into our lives, encourage us to exercise and play, and even help lower our blood pressure. Pets are good for families because they help kids learn about empathy and responsibility.

 

But with so many places to adopt, rescue, or purchase a pet, the amount of research involved can be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking for your first pet or are an experienced pet owner, you should first consider the many benefits of adopting from a shelter.

 

Why adopt from a shelter?

Shelters offer a wide variety of pets. Pet overpopulation affects pets of all ages, breeds and personalities. When families surrender pets to shelters, they frequently cite reasons of allergies, an impending move, or other changes in the household. Their pets end up homeless through no fault of their own. Plus, 25% percent of the dogs who enter shelters are purebreds. (Though, savvy adopters know that mutts can have all the best traits of their favorite breeds!)

Shelters can make the right match for your family. Whether your household bustles with kids and busy parents, you’re settling into retirement, or you’re a single professional looking for a companion, a shelter can have the right pet for you. Adoption Counselors know each pet’s experience, characteristics and needs and can recommend anything from a cat who’s lived harmoniously with kids and dogs to a four-legged jogging partner.

Shelter adoption is the best deal around. In additional to gaining a lifelong companion (which is simply priceless!), you have the added comfort of knowing that many of the initial expenses of pet ownership have already been covered. For example, shelters like Animal Friends in Pittsburgh absorb a significant financial expense for every animal that comes through their doors. Every animal in their care receives a veterinary exam, is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed and is treated with a flea and tick preventive. When you adopt from Animal Friends, the shelter requests a donation of $75 for dogs and cats, $100 for puppies and kittens 20 weeks and younger and $60 for rabbits. These donations, while appreciated, do not cover the cost of the animals’ care.

 

Shelters offer a support system. When you adopt from a shelter, you can always return with questions or to get advice. Many shelters offer behavior training classes and pet-friendly social events.

 

It’s the compassionate thing to do. An estimated 3-4 million pets are euthanized in shelrers in the United States every year. The primary cause of euthanasia is pet overpopulation: too many unwanted animals and too few adoptive homes. When you adopt from a shelter, you open a cage for another pet who would otherwise not have a chance. Any adopter will tell you that “recycled” pets are simply the best!

 

If you live in southwestern Pennsylvania, Animal Friends can help you find your match! Located on Camp Horne Road in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, can help. Animal Friends houses a minimum of 250 homeless pets every day. This population consists of dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and rabbits of various breeds, ages, sizes, temperaments, and backgrounds. Animal Friends is open 7 days a week. View adoptable animals and learn more about the adoption process by visiting www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

Tag(s): adoption, cats, dogs, rabbits, shelters