Heart Healthy Reasons to Adopt a Pet
- By Phase 3
- •
- 22 Feb, 2018
Sponsored by SCRAPS
Thinking of adding a pet to your family? Here are five reasons to adopt your new best friend.
1. If you adopt, you'll save a lifetop5-reasons-to-adopt-767a
Each year in the United States alone, 2.7 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized because too few people adopt from shelters. Because space within shelters is limited, staff members too frequently are required to decide which animals will be euthanized. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. By adopting from a humane society or private animal shelter, rescue group, or from a local animal-control agency, you will help save the lives of two animals – the pet you adopt, and a homeless animal somewhere who can be rescued because of the space you helped free up.
2. When you adopt, you get a healthy pet
Animal shelters and rescue groups are brimming with happy, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. Here at HSGS we examine, vaccinate, spay or neuter and microchip all of our pets prior to adoption. In addition to medical care, we also screen animals for specific temperaments and behaviors to make sure each family finds the right pet for its lifestyle.
It is a common misconception that animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups because they've been abused or done something "wrong." In fact, most animals are given to shelters or rescue groups because of "people reasons" like a divorce, a move, lack of time, and financial constraints are among the most common reasons pets lose their homes… not because of anything they've done.
3. Adopting will save you money
Adopting a pet is much less expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or through other sources. For $9-$300 your adopted pet is already vaccinated, fixed and micro-chipped! And at HSGS, every adoption includes a free vet visit and 30 days of free pet insurance! That’s a steal!
4. Adopting a pet will make you feel better
Pets have a way of putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Not only do animals give you unconditional love, but research confirms that pets provide us humans with psychological, emotional, and physical benefits. Caring for a companion animal can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment as well as lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation in all age groups. Simply put, pets aren't just good friends; they're also good medicine and can improve a person's well-being in many ways.
5. If you adopt, you won't be supporting puppy mills and pet stores
Puppy mills are "factory style" breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Most animals raised in puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care. The “parents” are kept in cages; bred over and over for years, without human companionship and little hope of ever joining a family. And after they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded – either killed, abandoned or sold at auction. Puppy-mill puppies are sold to unsuspecting consumers and pet stores, over the Internet, at flea markets and through newspaper classified advertisements to anyone willing to pay for them. Marketed as from great breeders, well-honed sales tactics keep money flowing to the puppy mills. Buyers never get to see where the pups are bred (a vital step in puppy-buying). Many of the puppies have serious behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent for months, including medical problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if they are treatable at all. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not even aware that puppy mills exist, so when they buy a pet from a pet store, online or other retail outlet, they are unwittingly supporting this cruel industry. By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you aren't supporting the cruelty of puppy mills. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing from them. Instead of buying a pet, visit your local shelter or contact a local rescue group, where you will likely to find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies, kittens, and adult pets – including purebred – just waiting for that special home. Yours!
Each year in the United States alone, 2.7 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized because too few people adopt from shelters. Because space within shelters is limited, staff members too frequently are required to decide which animals will be euthanized. The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. By adopting from a humane society or private animal shelter, rescue group, or from a local animal-control agency, you will help save the lives of two animals – the pet you adopt, and a homeless animal somewhere who can be rescued because of the space you helped free up.
2. When you adopt, you get a healthy pet
Animal shelters and rescue groups are brimming with happy, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. Here at HSGS we examine, vaccinate, spay or neuter and microchip all of our pets prior to adoption. In addition to medical care, we also screen animals for specific temperaments and behaviors to make sure each family finds the right pet for its lifestyle.
It is a common misconception that animals end up in shelters or with rescue groups because they've been abused or done something "wrong." In fact, most animals are given to shelters or rescue groups because of "people reasons" like a divorce, a move, lack of time, and financial constraints are among the most common reasons pets lose their homes… not because of anything they've done.
3. Adopting will save you money
Adopting a pet is much less expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or through other sources. For $9-$300 your adopted pet is already vaccinated, fixed and micro-chipped! And at HSGS, every adoption includes a free vet visit and 30 days of free pet insurance! That’s a steal!
4. Adopting a pet will make you feel better
Pets have a way of putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Not only do animals give you unconditional love, but research confirms that pets provide us humans with psychological, emotional, and physical benefits. Caring for a companion animal can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment as well as lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation in all age groups. Simply put, pets aren't just good friends; they're also good medicine and can improve a person's well-being in many ways.
5. If you adopt, you won't be supporting puppy mills and pet stores
Puppy mills are "factory style" breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Most animals raised in puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care. The “parents” are kept in cages; bred over and over for years, without human companionship and little hope of ever joining a family. And after they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded – either killed, abandoned or sold at auction. Puppy-mill puppies are sold to unsuspecting consumers and pet stores, over the Internet, at flea markets and through newspaper classified advertisements to anyone willing to pay for them. Marketed as from great breeders, well-honed sales tactics keep money flowing to the puppy mills. Buyers never get to see where the pups are bred (a vital step in puppy-buying). Many of the puppies have serious behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent for months, including medical problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if they are treatable at all. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not even aware that puppy mills exist, so when they buy a pet from a pet store, online or other retail outlet, they are unwittingly supporting this cruel industry. By adopting instead of buying a pet, you can be certain you aren't supporting the cruelty of puppy mills. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing from them. Instead of buying a pet, visit your local shelter or contact a local rescue group, where you will likely to find dozens of healthy, well-socialized puppies, kittens, and adult pets – including purebred – just waiting for that special home. Yours!
