At some point in your life, you may consider finding a furry companion to care for and love. Surprisingly, a large number of people automatically resort to buying a purebred puppy or kitten for several hundred (or even several thousand) dollars. When asked about adoption, some people shrug and say that they never considered adopting an animal.

I am baffled by that answer.

From day one, I have been surrounded by animals. Each and every one of my beautiful companions has been adopted. I have walked through adoption centers and seen the countless animals, both young and old, in need of a home. I have volunteered at animal shelters and witnessed the large numbers of animals who desperately seek loving homes. You see, these animals were left behind for whatever reason. Perhaps they once knew love, or perhaps they were rescued from puppy mills or other abusive situations. Every day, there are animals in adoption centers who are on euthanasia lists because there are too many unwanted animals in need of homes.

While all animals need homes regardless of whether you go to private breeders or adoption centers, I would like to highlight the importance of adoption.

• You are saving an animal’s life--- literally.
  According to the ASPCA, 7.6 million animals enter rescue shelters, and 2.7 million of those animals are euthanized every year. Let me say that again: 2.7 million animals are euthanized every year because they were unwanted. When you choose to adopt, you help bring that number down.
• When you adopt an animal, you give that animal a second chance at a happy life.
  There are many reasons why an animal might be at a rescue, but all those reasons boil down to one thing: they no longer have a loving home. Adoption is a second chance, and everyone (including animals) deserve a second chance. You may not be doing anything completely drastic to save the entire world, but you saved your companion’s entire world.
• Adopting animals saves multiple lives.
  Think about it. If you adopt an animal at your local shelter, you free up another space for a stray or an unwanted animal. If shelters are full, then unwanted animals either have nowhere to go, or they go to foster homes. If an animal cannot go into a foster home, some people will just dump their unwanted animals on the street. By adopting an animal, you give a second animal a place to stay until she/he can find a new home.

To the people who insist on buying puppies and kittens, I remind you that there are other options besides seeking purebreds. Adopted animals are not any lesser than the puppies or kittens people buy from private breeders. I understand the appeal of wanting a puppy or a kitten; you get to watch them grow. Coming from someone who has (and who will always be) an adopter, I can tell you that there are far greater memories with a furry companion than the “growing up” period. Besides, you just might find that you rescued more than your companion; you rescued yourself.