Adopt…Don’t Shop!

Some people might think this statement is a little hypocritical for me, as my dog was not purchased from a shelter, but from a newspaper advertisement. But, all of my cats have come from a shelter.

Yesterday, I helped out in the cat rooms of a shelter that my friend owns. I got to see 9 cats that were available for adoption. There are also dozens of cats and dogs available in foster homes now too through her shelter. And her shelter is only one of many in the area.

I am sure you have seen the amazing story of Derrick Nnadi, the Kansas City Chiefs player that sponsored dogs through KC Pet Project. Here is the story in case you missed it: http://fox4kc.com/2020/02/08/ive-always-loved-dogs-derrick-nnadi-sponsors-109-dog-adoptions-after-super-bowl-win/

I was so impressed with Derrick and how he was able to motivate all those families to choose a dog from the shelter. I am hoping that other players in other cities follow suit, as it made a huge difference to KC Pet Project. Now they are able to fill up their rescue with many more adoptable animals. When someone adopts from a shelter, they are actually changing the lives of two dogs or cats, as they are making room for another to be helped.

I will be the first to admit that I am not really a dog person. That is why I got a specific kind of dog that would be small, fluffy, and not shed. I also researched what kind of dog would be a good fit with my family. Our cavamaltipoo has been a perfect addition. I have always loved fluffy animals, which is why I have a long-haired cat and a rabbit as well. I am a glutton for punishment when it comes to grooming!

I do not believe in paying a bucketful of money for an animal. One, I do not have a bucketful of money to spend. Two, the animal will cost you plenty once you own it, and Three, if you have to put your pet on a payment plan, it is probably not the best time to purchase a pet.

There are a few pet stores in town that my daughter loves to visit because they have lots of little fluffy dogs to play with. They are adorable, but are also over a thousand dollars to purchase. This is ridiculous! Those dogs are not any better than the other thousands of dogs available to purchase through a rescue. I even get frustrated when I see different dogs priced higher at shelters because of their breed or “cuteness.” Every animal deserves to be loved.

I do realize that there are costs incurred by those rescues for vetting and food and such, but when one dog is hundreds more than another, I think it is just taking advantage of a breed more people want and making them pay more for it. They all need a home, so it should be a reasonable price to pay for all of them no matter the size or breed.

I could not find statistics for later than 2015, but at that time, there were 7.6 million animals estimated to be in shelters. It is about an even split between dogs and cats (DoSomething.org.) So, the next time you are considering getting another pet, please consider helping one of those millions of animals that are hoping to find a forever home. And please spay and neuter your pets, so a dent can be made in this national problem.