After recently deciding to adopt a puppy from my local humane society, I cannot help but to want to encourage others to do the same. I absolutely love my puppy, and as frustrating as she can be, I wouldn't trade her for the world.

1. You are not only saving one life but potentially millions

Local shelters receive several dogs and cats each day with limited room to house them. As the number of animals coming in is greater than the numbers going out, some shelters have no option but to euthanize the animals. By adopting one animal, you open up one spot that can hold another pet that may not have had their chance at finding their forever home.

2. You know they found a good home

Many shelter animals were found loose on the streets or taken away from homes where they were treated poorly. When you adopt an animal from the shelter, you ensure that they do not lead a life of starvation or abuse by living with someone with poor intentions.

You also know that they will not be sent back to the shelter as soon as they misbehave. You have to be willing to work with your pet, this is all new to them.

3. They are used to the bare minimum, so everything above that is special to them

Despite their best efforts, local shelters cannot always offer animals a life of luxury. Shelters do not receive a lot of funding and they often rely on donations from community members. They have to take what they are given and distribute it evenly among the animals. By even giving your animal their own toys, they feel special knowing that something is only theirs.

4. They are used to being around other animals

Shelters try to socialize animals the animals when they can to give them a greater chance of getting adopted. If you're interested in getting a dog, you would want to know how it has been interacting with the other animals at the shelter before taking it home to the dog you already have. By getting a dog from a breeder, it is likely that they do not have as much socialization experience, so it is hard to know how they will react.

5. Adopted animals are a lot nicer to your wallet

In their time at the shelter, animals receive all necessary vet care including shots and flea removal if necessary. Most shelters also spay/neuter and microchip animals before putting them up for adoption which is included in their adoption fee.

6. Your pet is one-of-a-kind

There are millions of pure-bred animals out there, but there is only one of your pet. You don't always know exactly what they are mixed with, and that's okay. They have pieces and parts of different breeds that make them perfect for you.

7. Having a pet makes you happier, adopting one is just an extra boost

Knowing that your pet needs you to come home every day is a little extra incentive to make it through the day. When you walk through the door after a long day of work, your pet runs to the door to greet you as they have been waiting all day for you to come home. Additionally, it has to make you feel a little better that you gave an animal living in the shelter a forever home.

8. You're not supporting puppy mills

Animals bred in puppy mills are put as a second priority to the profit the breeders make. This often means raising them in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. By adopting animals from your local humane society you decrease the demand for these puppies meaning less will be raised in these conditions.

9. You support your community

By adopting, you support a local non-profit organization. You also help to minimize the number of homeless animals as all animals are spayed/neutered before leaving the shelter.

10. They will love you unconditionally

They will always be there for you at the end of the day. Your pet will forgive you no matter how many times you step on their paw or yell at them for going potty in the house.