Adopt Don’t Shop

Local Shelters Provide Great Additions to Families

Tommy (left) and Mallory (right) were both adopted from Dolly’s Legacy Animal Rescue based in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were adopted about 2 years apart.

For over 12,000 years, humans have kept dogs as pets. Dogs have become the most popular pet in the world with more households having a dog compared to any other pet. Across the world, there are about 900 million dogs and approximately 3.3 million are placed in shelters. Like humans, dogs need food, water and shelter in order to survive. Without it, exposure to natural elements could potentially kill them. Like my dog, Mallory, they can be left unsupervised outside while pregnant or like my dog, Tommy, sent away and put onto a kill list. These abandoned dogs have the same right to live as any other dog. They may have had a rough start in life, but they can become anyone’s best friend if given the chance.
In Nebraska alone, there are over 100 shelters rescuing dogs and other animals. These shelters house some of the most adorable and loving animals. There are numerous reasons why one should adopt and not shop.
First off, lives will be saved. All of the pets in these shelters have been either rejected, lost or given up. By opening up our homes, the pets are given a second chance at life and happiness. Secondly, adopting helps break the cycle of pet overpopulation. There are millions of animals born each year and they are euthanized because there is not enough room for them to live. Adopting from a shelter weakens the overpopulation cycle. Adoption is a better option financially speaking. An adoption fee is significantly less than purchasing a purebred puppy. Finally, adopting can encourage others to adopt.
When people ask where the newest addition came from, you can tell them “a shelter.” Someone’s choice in adopting could start a cycle of saving the lives of numerous dogs. There are several reasons why adopting from a local shelter or anywhere else is one of the most rewarding things someone can do.
I promise that it is one of the best decisions one can make. The pets may not have had the best start to life, but life is so much better with a built in best friend. Not only is their life being saved, but the owner of an adopted pet feels the shared love a pet provides. The perfect match could just be right inside the local shelter. Who knows, maybe a forever best friend is waiting in a cage on the other side of town.