Save_a_Life

Imagine the excitement of a little girl getting a puppy on her birthday. Then a couple of months go by, she is no longer interested, and her parents are too busy to care for poor animal. As a result, the puppy shivers in an overcrowded shelter. Sadly, this story is all too real. Every year 8 million cats and dogs are abandoned and left at shelters in the United States (HSUS). Precisely because so many owners can no longer afford to take care of their pets, adoption is extremely important. Rather than support pet stores, puppy mills, or breeders, potential pet owners should consider adoption and spaying and neutering their pets to reduce the growing number of homeless pets abounded in shelters. The biggest reason for dumping pets in the U.S. is moving (CJonline). Due to all the foreclosures, as a consequence many pets are left behind. Some owners dump their pets at shelters, while the rest are leave their pets at home to die from, starvation, dehydration, or heat exhaustion. Some might rationalize their behavior by hoping someone from the bank or city will rescue the pet. Others have no compassion and they do not look at a pet as a living, breathing creature incapable of fending for itself. They see a pet as a tossed sofa in an alley. Then there are some who are incapable of thinking what the future holds for themselves, let alone the Page 2 responsibility for their pets. For these reasons, when you buy a pet, you need to consider why you want a pet, and ask yourself if you are ready to take on the responsibilities. If you have the time, money, and living arrangements, and did your research on a breed that have characteristics suitable to your lifestyle, then take a stroll to adopt at a shelter. Once you see the abundance of homeless pets, you will see why it is important to be sure you are prepared for a lifelong commitment before your final decision. While some people mean well when buying animals, others do not realize they are supporting cruelty. More than likely, majority of pets bought in stores or online are supplied by puppy mills, places where pups are bred for no other reason than profit. Typical housing conditions of puppy mills consist of mother dogs stacked in tiny cages on top of one another, bred over and over, until the mothers are finally sold because they can no longer produce litters or they are killed. Some mothers and their puppies spend every day outdoors in the same small patch of dirt in all types of weather attached to trees with no bedding or protection from the cold or heat. Mothers and their litters often sit in unsanitary conditions, have poor diets, and never receive veterinary care. Thus, these animals suffer from eye infections, ear infections, mange, malnutrition, and abscessed feet due to the wire on the bottom of the cages. Constant confinement with no veterinary care and lack of socialization often result in animals that are unhealthy and difficult to socialize. As a result, many are abandoned within weeks or months after their adoption by frustrated a buyer, which increases euthanization. Furthermore, some people intentionally choose to breed their pets, either for profit or for what they believe to be a “fun” experience. Many people who breed their pets believe they are Page 3 not adding to the pet overpopulation problem if they find homes for all their puppies or kittens. However, every puppy or kitten sold by an irresponsible breeder means there is one more shelter animal that will never find a home. These homeless puppies and kittens eventually end up in shelters when they could have been adopted. By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you are not supporting cruel puppy mills with your money. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing their dogs. Instead of buying a dog, visit your local shelter where you will likely to find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies and adult dogs, even including purebreds. It is a misconception that animals are in shelters because they have been abused or done something "wrong". In fact, most animals are given to shelters because of "people reasons," not because of anything they've done. Things like a divorce, a move, lack of time or financial problems are among the most common reasons why pets lose their homes. Most shelters examine and give vaccinations to animals when they arrive, and many spay or neuter them before being adopted. In addition to medical care, more and more shelters also screen animals for specific temperaments and behaviors to make sure each family finds the right pet for its lifestyle. Undoubtedly, there are many happy and healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. Sadly, between 3 and 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States simply because too many people give up their pets and too few people adopt from shelters (HSUS). Because there is limited space at shelters, staff members sometimes need to make very hard decisions to euthanize animals who haven't been adopted. The number of euthanized Page 4 animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. By adopting from a private humane society or animal shelter, breed rescue group, or the local animal control agency, you'll help save the lives of two animals- the pet you adopt and a homeless animal somewhere who can be rescued because of space you helped free up. Not only does pet adoption help needy animals, it also benefits you. Animals give you unconditional love and have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally, and physically beneficial. Caring for a companion animal can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation in all age groups. Pets can help your physical health as well- just spending time with an animal can help lower a person's blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and dog walking, pet grooming, and even petting provide increased physical activity that can help strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and slow the loss of bone tissue. Put simply, pets aren't just good friends, they're also good medicine and can improve a person's well-being in many ways. Just by adopting, you can help stop the cause of pain and suffering to these animals and save countless amounts of lives. Though you may want to “rescue” an animal from a pet store, remember that you would only be contributing to the horror of puppy mills and adding to the number of animals in shelters. Most importantly, by choosing to adopt, you will not only save a life, but you will also ensure that your adoption fee is going to help the next unwanted pet that comes through the door of that shelter. Next time when you decide to add another member to your home, you are ready to take the lifelong responsibility of pet ownership. Page 5 Works Cited Barbra Hollingsworth.“Animal shelter fills up as people leave pets. CJ Online. Web. 15 Nov 2010 “Pet Overpopulation Estimates”. The Humane Society of the United States. Web. 10 Nov 2010 “Puppy Mills”. The Humane Society of the United States. Web 10 Nov 2010 “What to Consider Before Adopting a Pet” The Humane Society of the United States. Web. 10 Nov 2010 “Animals Do Not Make Good Gifts”. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Web. 25 Oct 2010