Why should you Adopt, and not Shop? - Save Lives

A Los Angeles-based non-profit Animal Advocacy organization launched a campaign “Adopt, Don’t Shop”. The organization was Last Chance for Animals. It was an international campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of animal adoptions. The twelve-year-old slogan encourages you to rescue and adopt pets instead of shopping them from pet stores that are bought from puppy mills.

Over the course of a dozen years, various animal rights proponents are using the slogan left, right, and center. In that case, we would easily assume that there is enough knowledge among prospective pet owners. But sadly, that is not the case at all.

Every time a friend or a colleague asks me where they can find a shop for a pet, I ask them why they don’t try adopting. I recommend them to rescue a pet animal from the adoption/rescue centers. The reasons they give a downright sad. My friends say that the dogs up for adoption are usually unhealthy and sick. They worry about the chances of the dog being a mixed breed and they are looking for a pure breed. Some of them go to an extent of even calling the pups ugly or not looking cute or in those terms. Why do you even need a pup if you are not going to love them for what they are in the first place?

In the great attempt to buy a cute-looking, healthy, and purebred dog, we are overlooking a lot of factors. We are looking for a companion in the form of dogs. What we really need is love, companionship, happiness, and that is why we are getting our furry friends home. And those who are buying dogs are doing nothing but promoting commercial dog breeding!

Why should you adopt a dog?

Let us pause for a moment and look at all the pros of adopting a little pup to your home.

You will feel so self-satisfied with the joy of bringing home a poor homeless creature and spreading love. Additionally, the amount of unconditional love you get from such a rescued dog is incomparable to the ones you get in shops.

Most of the strays you find on the streets are very immune and healthy thanks to their right life compared to their counterparts. They are also absolutely beautiful if you look at them with love. Additionally, they are strong and tolerant even in adverse conditions.

You can save the costs of purchasing by adopting. Adoption is free!

If you are looking for an excellent variety of pups to choose from, then there is no better place than a rescue center or a shelter.

Furthermore, you can find a well-trained dog from the shelter easily. This will work if you are looking for a slightly older and sober dog for a companion.

You are basically saving two dogs when you adopt. Every time you pick up a pup for care, the rescue center makes space for another. Hence, you are doing two good deeds at the expense of one.

Let me put it this way; you are looking for a lovable companion. These pups are looking for a home. There can be no better fit in such a scenario.

Why should you not favor commercial dog breeding at any cost?

The conditions in most of the breeding centers are unethical. The practices are downright abhorrent in many cases. The dogs live in very bad conditions, often without proper veterinary care or basic amenities.

The breeders torture the female dogs to breed at every second opportunity without giving them any time to recover. The result of this is that many pups are born with serious health conditions. Furthermore, these pups die prematurely.

Buying a pet is a very costly affair compared to adoption. Additionally, there are chances of premature deaths and visits to veterinary care. There can be health problems leading to extra expenses.

Many shelters have a limit of a certain number up to which they can foster dogs. They cannot get in more until these dogs are adopted.

So, to those who are looking to get a companion, please do consider adoption. Save a life and don’t shop.