Almost everyone has seen the sad puppy commercial on T.V. and flipped the channel because it is hard to see all the sad animals in cages at shelters across America. Almost everyone has also walked by the pet store and seen it packed with families and people who are paying hundreds of dollars for puppies. Now, what if I told you that you didn't have to buy a seven hundred dollar dog from a pet store because there are thousands of those dogs from the commercials in shelters all across America that need homes?
For the animal lovers out there here is a tragic fact for you, according to the human society, each year, 2.7 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States because too many animals come into shelters and there aren't enough people to adopt them. So why aren't people adopting these animals? Is it because they are seen as "damaged"? How about maybe it's because "You never know where they came from."? Maybe because they "are just mutts"? These are all excuses I have heard as to why people are willing to buy a puppy rather than ever adopting a shelter dog. And truthfully, that is just ridiculous. You would never look at a person and say "We can't be friends because I don't know where you came from." or "I can't love you because I don't know your heritage." So how can you do that to a dog? If you show a dog love the dog will show it back. You don't walk around being mean to people and expecting them to love you. So give the pound puppy a chance.
By adopting from a shelter you are cutting down the support of puppy mills. Most of us have all heard of them and frankly, it confuses me as to why anyone would willingly support a puppy mill. For those that are unaware of what puppy mills are places that are known for having breeding puppies for sale, typically on an intensive basis and in conditions regarded as inhumane. Most commonly puppy mills sell the puppies to pet stores and online. So by adopting from a shelter people cut down the need for puppy mills and we all need to cut down the puppy mills.
The average Siberian husky from a pet store costs around six-hundred dollars and that is just for the dog itself. We adopted a Siberian husky for less than half of that, and with her adoption fee, we got both the dog and she got her shots. Plus for those of you who want to be a hipster, there is nothing more hipster than a mixed dog; it's
Listen, in my opinion, dogs are better than people, they will spend their entire lives loving you and they don't even care when the last time you combed your hair was. My family has adopted shelter dogs for as long as I can remember and we have been blessed with some amazing animals. I refuse to believe that we just have magnificent luck at picking out dogs. All of the pictures in this article are dogs that we have adopted, and they have all been huge parts of the family and our lives. Adopting from a shelter is a win for everyone. Seriously, it costs less, you are gaining a friend, and you are saving a life.You save a dog's life, and who knows, the dog might just save yours too.
