When adopting a pet, go to a shelter. Shelter pets need someone willing to take the time to care for them. There are far too many homeless animals in the world, and we can each give one a warm, loving home.
While many argue that shelter pets can be dangerous, most just need to learn that they don’t need to defend themselves from people. Dogs, for example, are not inherently aggressive; it’s a learned behavior. When denied food or attention, they learn to fight other animals for it. When people hurt them, they learn to defend themselves. Taking the time to help rescue dogs recover from abuse they may have been through can help people get through to a pet no one would have otherwise known.
Not only are shelter pets opportunities to find an animal to love, but breeders can be apathetic towards the needs of their pets. Oftentimes, breeders will keep an animal as long as it can produce litters for them, then give it up to a shelter. Supporting breeders can mean supporting cruel practices. While certainly not all breeders are bad, and many are very caring towards their pets, it can be difficult to find one that is confirmed to follow good breeding practices and cares for their animals well.
Now, it is true that some shelters can be cruel places as well, but it is far less often that the staff are uncaring. Most people who work at shelters clearly care about the animals there, or they wouldn’t work at an animal shelter.
Good breeders out there know how to place their puppies, kittens, or other animals into loving homes. Animals bred by people like that are sure to be placed in a good home — as proven by the long wait lists to adopt animals from well-liked breeders. For example, Vista Goldens, a dog breeder in Michigan, follows all American Kennel Club breed standards and is a well-known ethical breeder. Due to this, there is a long waitlist. Shelter animals, on the other hand, are not guaranteed to ever find a home. Adopting from a shelter can save an animal that may never have found a forever home otherwise.
