Nowadays, dogs are the new kids and everyone (including and especially myself) goes crazy wherever there's a doggy. Admittedly I am one of the many people who have to stop to pet a dog every time they see one. And particularly, every time I see a puppy, especially a puppy of an expensive breed like a corgi or a golden retriever, I go absolutely crazy and my voice becomes disgustingly high. But in the midst of all that obsession, I always wonder where that puppy came from because puppies like that don't usually come from shelters but from expensive breeders. While I'm not against the proper breeding of dogs, I definitely support adopting more, because, with a couple of grand that you would spend on a puppy from a breeder, you could be saving lots of dogs' lives at your local shelters. And here's why you should always adopt over shop.

1. You're saving a life

Yes, you are literally saving a life. You are giving a second chance to those that were neglected, abused, abandoned or used for humans' selfish reasons like puppy mill breeding, dog fighting or even dog meat farms. To you, an adoption might just be a part of many changes in your life, but to them, it changes their entire lives. Many dogs that end up in shelters usually have a past that has hurt them in some way, and many of them haven't felt kindness or love in their lives. And every one of them deserves a second chance at a happy life.

2.You're freeing up the space necessary to save another life.

Not only are you saving a life but you are also giving a chance for another life to be saved. Spaces in most shelters are usually in high-demand, and unfortunately, many shelters euthanize the animals simply because they don't have space. By taking home a dog (or a cat), you are freeing up space in a shelter for another rescued animal to come in. And that leads those animals to have a chance to be adopted too.

3. Cheap adoption fees

I have seen a couple of people with pure-bred puppies who have spent a couple grand just to get one. If you go to shelters, you can get puppies for dirt cheap compared to breeders, around $200-300 depending on the shelter. Adult dogs and senior dogs are cheaper, and if you go to special adoption events or their campaigns, the fees are usually even cheaper.

4. Your adoption fees go towards the animals' needs

The thing about many shelters is that, they need money because most of them are volunteer-based. They are always asking for donations because why? Veterinary cares and foods cost a lot of money. And that's how you know that all that money you spend on adoption fees and donations is going towards caring for more animals in need.

5. You get to see the transformation.

I personally love following social media posts and videos about their transformations from when they were in shelters to after they find their families. As I said before, adoption changes their entire lives. They go from being caged most of their days to being free with people who love and care for them. With every dog, you see a different kind of transformation. Dogs who used to be scared of people transform into the most loving dogs through their process of building trust with their humans. Dogs who used to be labeled "aggressive" could be seen laying down on their backs for endless belly rubs. How amazing is that?