We all get to that point in life when we feel a little lonely and decide to get a fur baby. It's a big step to bring a life home who depends on you and loves you unconditionally. There are a lot of things to consider and plan for. Hopefully by the end of this I can convince you to get your new fur baby from an animal shelter.

1. Costs.

Taking care of another life can get a little expensive at times. If you get a pure bred from a breeder you're looking at paying $300-$1000+ for just the puppy. Then after that you have to pay the vet bills to get them the necessary booster shots and to get them spayed/neutered.

Adopting from a shelter can save you a ton of money because normally adoption fees are only $50-$100 which includes them already being up to date on all shots and having the spay/neuter surgery. Some places even have them microchiped during this process. All of that, already done for under $100. Can't beat those prices.

2. Saving a life.

It's no secret that there are kill shelters out there. There are so many homeless dogs and cats that end up at shelters. Those shelters only have so much room and if there aren't enough foster homes to take up the over flow, they end up having to put down the animals that are sick.

The shelters even put down older animals because they are less likely to be adopted. When you adopt, whether it be old or young, it makes just a little bit more space for a dog/cat to avoid getting put down and have another chance at finding a home. It can also create that space for a new homeless pet to get a second chance.

3. Longer lives together.

It's been proven that a "mutt" or mixed breed dog live longer and healthier lives than purebreds. Purebreds are kept "pure" a lot of the times due to inbreeding in order to keep the breed looking the same. Inbreeding can cause many health problems such as insane allergies, diseases, hip/joint problems, etc.

With mixed breeds often found in shelters, you wont have to make as many trips to the vet because they will likely live healthier lives since there was no inbreeding. Not getting sick as often also means a longer, happier life, for the both of you!

4. More options.

Sure with a breeder you can pick which puppy you want after the litter is born. However, with adoption you have so many more options. There are the basic ones like how you want your dog to look, but these shelters have histories on the animals. They can tell you if the dog is cat friendly, kid friendly, house trained, scared or sociable. You can set up a meeting with the animal that fits your wants like an online match maker.

Unlike with a breeder, you can pick your age as well. You want a new puppy to start from scratch and train yourself? Sure! You want a 1-3 year old that is already potty trained because you don't have time to train them the basics but you still have love to give them? You got it!

You can even pick out an older dog for grandma because she can't deal with the high energy of a younger dog but still wants cuddles. Your options with shelters are endless. You could even get lucky and come across that purebred you wanted so bad!

5. Support love, not mills.

Ever wonder where the pet stores get their animals from? A select few partner with shelters and actually make a difference, but a lot of them get their animals from "puppy mills". A puppy mill is a place where purebreds are bred like crazy and used as baby making machines just to turn a profit.

Those animals that are just popping out babies aren't getting the love they deserve. Every time you buy from a pet store you're feeding into the puppy mill economy and encouraging them to continue breeding that way. So choose love and adopt from your local shelter instead.

I have given you five of the most convincing reasons to get your next fur baby from a shelter. If that doesn't get you to adopt I don't know what will! Those homeless puppers and kitties need you and they will love you forever. Isn't that what we all want? Good luck on your adoption journey!