If you know me, you know I spend a lot of time looking at adoptable animals online. I usually end up crying or something because I feel so bad for the poor animals sleeping alone on a cold floor in a building that is reserved for unwanted and unloved animals. I also often try and convince my friends to get these animals, or Mom (she always says no). It physically hurts me to know that there are poor animals that don't know love. This is why we need to adopt animals from shelters, not buy them from chain stores.
ASPCA defines puppy mills as "A large-scale commercial dog breeding facility where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs." These animals suffer from inbreeding, which causes health issues, animal abuse (i.e. their horrible living conditions, lack of proper nutrition, lack of socialization and lack of care), and so many more horrible things.
If it were up to me, I would take all of the poor animals from all the shelters and all the chain stores and all the puppy mills and all the horrible living conditions and move them into a house with me where I would spend my days playing with them. Think "Hotel for Dogs" circa 2009. But I can't, because I don't have the money or the space.
The point I am trying to make is that before you go and buy a dog, cat or any animal from a chain store, at least check out your local shelter. I found my beautiful pup there, and I would be lost without her. I love her with my whole heart. One of my sorority sisters adopted her dog from a rescue center, and now Chesapeake Bae is our srat hound. My sister rescued her cat from the streets, and now Belle is the sweetest thing. One of my best friends got her dog, Mongo, from a shelter after he had been taken back three times because he barked too much. All of our pets found their forever homes, and no longer have to live in sad conditions.
Rescued pets will not only make your life and the animal's life better, but it will also help put an end to puppy mills and chain stores. These small acts can save the lives of all kinds of animals, not mention give them a better, healthier and more loved environment.
