Having a pet can be a fulfilling experience. With that said, we feel too many people look up breeders online, when before they would use the phonebook. Adopting from a shelter, in contrast, does more good in the long-run. Here is why you should adopt a pet vs. buying one from a store or a breeder.

Puppy And Kitten Mills Are Exploitative

If you buy a dog or cat from a mill, you are enabling a system that focuses on pumping pets out for purchase. The dogs or cats are often overbred in poor conditions so that they can be displayed as soon as possible in a store. The space is often insufficient, especially for larger breeds.

What’s worse is that puppy mills are finding new ways to stay alive.

Not that this does not apply if the store in question is affiliated with a shelter and is displaying the rescues there for adoption. Sometimes corporations will allow a shelter to display their rescues so that they can win over a would-be owner.

Pets From Official Breeders Are More Expensive

Buying a puppy or a kitten from a breeder can often mean breaking the bank. Some Weimaraners retail for up to seven thousand US dollars per puppy, with others being five hundred dollars at minimum. You usually have to spay or neuter your pet if you are not interested in having an animal in heat.

In contrast, at a shelter you mainly have to pay adoption fees and vaccinations if at all, and usually the pets in question are microchipped. Some are already trained, due to having grown up with previous owners. Thus you will pay less in the long run for a shelter pet.

Purebred Pets Have More Health Problems

Do you know what hip dysplasia is? It is a degenerative condition that hits larger breeds such as Labrador retrievers. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs have breathing problems owing to their structural shape. There are cats that have the same issue, such as Persians.
Many purebred dogs have little genetic diversity owing to limited breeding pool for each type. As a result, they are more likely to develop chronic health conditions in the long run.

With a shelter dog that is a mix, you are more likely to get a healthy boy or girl that is ready to run and spend a long life with you. Always get a clean bill of health from the vet, but your adopted dog or cat will be much healthier than a purchased pet.

Support A Loving Home At Rescue Strays

RescueStrays wants to be more than an animal shelter. We take care of homeless animals that are deemed “unadoptable”. When you sponsor one of these pets, you are saving their lives. Our experts take care of those who otherwise are lacking a forever home and provide updates to our loyal members.

Reach out to us today to find more about adopting an adult or younger pet. At RescueStrays, we’ll allow you to enjoy the pet experience, without having to adopt or buy a pet.