The decision to bring a pet into your life is undoubtedly one filled with excitement and anticipation. As you embark on this journey, one crucial choice lies ahead: should you adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue organization, or should you buy one from a breeder or pet store? While both options might seem viable, adopting an animal should be your first choice. Here are just a few reasons why adopting is better than shopping.
Save a Life
Each year, millions of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, and more, end up in shelters or rescue organisations such as Saving Strays Animal Rescue. Many of these animals are healthy, loving, and in desperate need of a home. By choosing to adopt, you are directly saving a life and providing a second chance to a deserving animal. This compassionate act can fill your heart with joy and make a significant difference in an animal’s life.
Help Prevent Overpopulation
The pet overpopulation crisis is a real and pressing issue. Breeding animals for profit only exacerbates this problem. Shelters and rescue organisations are overcrowded with animals looking for homes, and millions are euthanized each year due to a lack of space and resources. Saving Strays Animal Rescue never puts a healthy animal down, however, this does mean our capacity is constantly strained. By adopting, you contribute to the solution by reducing the demand for breeding and helping to lower the number of animals in shelters.
Supports Ethical Practice
Many breeders prioritise profit over the well-being of the animals they produce. This often leads to inhumane conditions, neglect, and health problems for the animals. Animal shelters and rescue groups, however, are dedicated to the welfare of their animals. They provide necessary veterinary care, rehabilitation, and ensure that their animals are spayed/neutered and vaccinated before adoption. By adopting, you support organisations that prioritise animal welfare over profit.
Diversity in Choices
Shelters and rescue organisations have a diverse range of animals waiting for their forever homes. Whether you’re looking for a specific breed, age, or size you can often find exactly what you’re looking for through adoption. Plus, mixed-breed animals can offer unique and charming qualities that are hard to come by when buying from a breeder.
Save Money
Adopting a pet is more cost-effective than buying one. The adoption fee covers spaying/neutering, vaccinations, and microchipping. This can save you a significant amount of money compared to purchasing a pet from a breeder or pet store, where you would likely have to pay additional fees for these services.
Develop a Bond
Animals adopted from shelters often show immense gratitude and loyalty to their new owners. They understand that you’ve given them a second chance at life and will often form incredibly strong bonds with their adoptive families. The love and companionship you receive from an adopted pet are truly heartwarming.
When it comes to adding a new member to your family, adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue organization should be your top choice. By making this compassionate decision, you save lives, help combat overpopulation, support ethical practices, enjoy a diverse selection of pets, save money, and build an unbreakable bond with your furry friend. The choice to adopt is a testament to your kindness and commitment to making the world a better place for animals in need. Saving Strays Animal Rescue relies on the kindness of pet lovers to adopt to not only help our animals in care but also to help make space for more animals that need our help. Please check out our pets for adoption and for more information please check out our adoption process. Remember, adopt, don’t shop.