Reasons to Adopt
Adopt – Don’t Buy – Save a Life



Reasons to Adopt
(ADOPT – DON’T BUY- SAVE A LIFE)
Get a “Whole Package” Pet
There are plenty of healthy, well-behaved, young & mature animals waiting for a home in animal shelters and rescue groups. When animals come to a shelter, they are initially bathed, deflead and dewormed. Then they are examined by a vet. When they reach 8 weeks of age they are vaccinated. If old enough, they are neutered before being adopted.
The medical history of the animal while it has been at the shelter is recorded and available to you when you adopt. Vaccination records are also provided.
Spending Less
Buying a pet from a pet store or other sources is far more expensive than adopting one from an animal shelter. Furthermore, shelter animals are already vaccinated (and if old enough neutered), making the shelter charge a bargain. Although many shelters and rescue organisations have some purebred animals, mongrels/mixed breeds make up most of the population, and adopting a mixed breed pet may be healthier (purebred pets are more likely to have genetic disorders) and therefore, cost less overall.
Save Lives and Doing A Good Deed
While figures vary, an estimated three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized (“put to sleep”) each year worldwide due to over-crowding in shelters. Because shelters have a limited amount of room, staff members must make the tough decision to euthanize healthy animals who do not find homes within a specific length of time. If more people adopted pets instead of buying them, the number of animals euthanized would be considerably reduced. You’ll help save the lives of two animals if you adopt from an animal shelter or rescue group: the pet you adopt and a homeless animal who can be rescued because of the space you make available. Adopting a dog or cat means saving a life. This sensation can be quite rewarding for individuals who choose to adopt an animal.
You’re helping to stop unkind and inhumane puppy & kitten mills
Puppy & kitten mills are breeding facilities that put profit over the welfare of the animals. The living conditions are poor, there is improper medical care, and the animals are kept in cages for a majority of their lives with little interaction or love. Mill puppies & kittens may have a higher risk of congenital disorders such as vision and hearing impairment since the breeder is breeding for number rather than quality. Due to a lack of human contact and inbreeding, they are frequently in poor health and have chronic behaviour and health issues. Mill animals are sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores, over the internet, and through newspaper classified advertisements. By adopting from a shelter instead of buying a pet, you can be certain that you aren’t supporting puppy or kitten mills.
Option to choose your perfect pet of any age
Although puppies and kittens are adorable, they can be difficult to teach. An already-trained adult or older pet may be a better fit for your lifestyle. So, by adopting an adult dog or cat who is already house-trained and knows basic commands is often far more convenient than adopting a puppy or kitten.
Take time at a shelter with the animals so that you can be sure you have found your perfect companion.
Mongrels usually live longer than purebred pets.
Mongrels are often physically healthier, psychologically more stable, and live longer than purebreds. A study published in 2013 discovered that mixed breed pets live 1.2 years longer on average than purebreds, and that rising body weight was negatively correlated with longevity (the heavier the pet, the less its lifespan). A later study released in 2019 confirmed the 1.2-year lifetime difference in mixed-breed pets, as well as the negative effects of recent inbreeding.


