“Adopt, don’t shop” – a phrase that has saved thousands of lives. There are many reasons why you should adopt a pet rather than buy one. Adoption isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a reward. Adopting a pet will change a homeless animal’s whole world.

Pets in the shelter are usually euthanized within a couple of days of being dropped off. These days can be the most stressful, confusing, and saddest days of a dog’s life due to the unfamiliar smells, horrible cramped cages, hostile stranger dogs and the lack of connection and love. Every year there are around 1.2 million dogs that are put down in shelters across the U.S. However, we can change this through adoption. Shelters take in millions of stray, abused, and lost animals every year. By adopting an animal, you’re not only saving a life and giving them a second chance, you’re making room for others and your money goes towards helping the shelters better care for the animals they take in. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. If you buy an animal from a pet store or breeder,  you are taking a home away from one of the 1.2 million unwanted shelter animals killed each year.

Most of the puppies sold in pet stores or online originate from puppy mills. Practices and conditions in most puppy mills are unethical. In these organizations, the health and welfare of the animals is not a priority. Dogs spend most of their lives in cramped cages, with no room to play or exercise. Often times, the water and food provided for the puppies is contaminated, crawling with bugs. Puppies can even be malnourished. It is a horrible industry.

We can make a difference, however. The more people who adopt, the more puppy mills have a hard time staying in business. Let’s spread this awareness to get people to adopt their furry friends rather than buying them.

Fill your heart with joy and love. Open your home to a set of paws. Adopt a new furry friend, you could save a life today!