Looking For A New Pet? – Why Adoption Is The Better Choice
Most people have fond memories of the pets they lived with as a child. Sometimes, the pet you acquire as an adult is your first experience living with a furry friend. Whatever the case, adding a new pet to the family is exciting.
You have many choices when looking for a pet. There are pet shops, shelters, rescue groups, and breeders. There are also several people looking for homes for their pets on websites like Penny Saver and Craigslist. Although you might have an idea of what type of pet you’re looking for, there are some things you need to consider before choosing where to get one.
The type of place you get your pet from can help determine its health, behavior, and the future of millions of other pets. Please read below for more information.
Pet Shops
Unless they offer rescued pets for adoption, pet shops are one of the worst places to get a pet. Pet shops get their pets from places known as “puppy mills”. Puppy mills force pets (dogs, cats, and other species) to breed over and over. They do not provide adequate nutrition, space, or exercise for the animals they keep.
Animals from puppy mills can have severe problems such as diseases, muscular, and skeletal deformities. These pets are frequently sick when they arrive at the pet shop. They are also more likely to suffer from behavior problems.
In addition to the health and behavior risks associated with buying a pet from a pet shop, supporting puppy mills puts millions of pets in danger every year. This is why pet shops that sell animals are being banned around the state.
Breeders
Although there are some very respectable breeders, most are in it just to make money. Inexperienced breeders often do not know how to properly care for the pets they are in charge of. Much like a puppy mill, pets from breeders are prone to physical deformities, diseases, and behavioral problems.
Classifieds
You’ll likely see lots of pets offered on websites like Penny Saver or Craigslist. While there are definitely perks to helping a pet in need, you never really know what you’re going to get. It’s not uncommon for well-meaning people to take a pet only to find it has aggression or other issues they hadn’t anticipated.
Shelters
Adopting from the shelter is an excellent way to give a pet a second chance at a good life. The only issue is that you won’t know what kind of behavior your pet has until you bring it home.
Most of the time, pets are dropped off at the shelter because of behavior problems. Keep this in mind when adopting.
Rescue Groups
Rescue groups take the time and effort necessary to get to know each and every pet. They understand what type of behavior problems they have and they’ve taken the time needed to resolve them. They have each pet checked by a licensed veterinarian to ensure they are healthy and free from disease. Since they’ve taken the time to get to know each pet, they will be able to tell you which one will be the right fit for your family.
Claws N Paws offers cat and kitten adoptions. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information.