Animal Adoption Options: Shelter or Store?
Philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimated that 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats are owned in the United States. People looking to adopt animals have a number of options about how to do this. Adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue center is more advantageous and desirable for the owner and animal than adopting from a store or breeder. Shelters offer adult animals, who may have previous training and an evident personality; adopting from a shelter can save lives of other animals from shelters and stores, and, by purchasing a pet from a local shelter, puppy mills and breeders are …show more content…
ASPCA defines a puppy mill as, “a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-beings of the dogs” (Puppy Mill FAQ). There are many setbacks to adopting from a puppy mill, store, or breeder, such as health or behavior problems, due to the treatment of the young dogs. The mills are usually unsanitary and overcrowded, with inadequate elements necessary for a puppy’s development, like medical care, food, water, socialization, and exercise (Puppy Mill FAQ). Often, puppies are born with physical issues that make them unable to be sold. The parents of the puppies, since the mother is bred until she is unable to reproduce any more litters, are usually killed at the mill. Puppies begin to be marketed as young as eight weeks old, and are sold to pet shops through a middleman. “Other puppy mill puppies are sold directly to the public, including over the Internet, through newspaper ads, and at swap meets and flea markets” (Puppy Mill FAQ). Adopting from a shelter reduces the demand for commercially bred puppies and kittens, who would potentially be sent to shelters for a number of factors (The Adoption Option). “According to the American Humane Association, the most common reasons why people relinquish or give away their dogs is because their place of residence does not allow pets (29%), not enough time, …show more content…
Adult dogs that are available for adoption at shelters are more developed in their personality and behavior, in contrast to a puppy, whose personality is undeveloped and unpredictable. Shelters fill up fast, so adopting from a shelter opens up space for more animals to be rescued, potentially saving the life of the pet you adopt and the ones that are taken off the street. Puppy mills put the profit of the business before the health of the puppies, and many animals suffer unnecessarily. Adopting animals from a shelter is a better choice for everyone involved. As ASPCA says, “We fight for animals. Will you join the
Philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimated that 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats are owned in the United States. People looking to adopt animals have a number of options about how to do this. Adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue center is more advantageous and desirable for the owner and animal than adopting from a store or breeder. Shelters offer adult animals, who may have previous training and an evident personality; adopting from a shelter can save lives of other animals from shelters and stores, and, by purchasing a pet from a local shelter, puppy mills and breeders are …show more content…
ASPCA defines a puppy mill as, “a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-beings of the dogs” (Puppy Mill FAQ). There are many setbacks to adopting from a puppy mill, store, or breeder, such as health or behavior problems, due to the treatment of the young dogs. The mills are usually unsanitary and overcrowded, with inadequate elements necessary for a puppy’s development, like medical care, food, water, socialization, and exercise (Puppy Mill FAQ). Often, puppies are born with physical issues that make them unable to be sold. The parents of the puppies, since the mother is bred until she is unable to reproduce any more litters, are usually killed at the mill. Puppies begin to be marketed as young as eight weeks old, and are sold to pet shops through a middleman. “Other puppy mill puppies are sold directly to the public, including over the Internet, through newspaper ads, and at swap meets and flea markets” (Puppy Mill FAQ). Adopting from a shelter reduces the demand for commercially bred puppies and kittens, who would potentially be sent to shelters for a number of factors (The Adoption Option). “According to the American Humane Association, the most common reasons why people relinquish or give away their dogs is because their place of residence does not allow pets (29%), not enough time, …show more content…
Adult dogs that are available for adoption at shelters are more developed in their personality and behavior, in contrast to a puppy, whose personality is undeveloped and unpredictable. Shelters fill up fast, so adopting from a shelter opens up space for more animals to be rescued, potentially saving the life of the pet you adopt and the ones that are taken off the street. Puppy mills put the profit of the business before the health of the puppies, and many animals suffer unnecessarily. Adopting animals from a shelter is a better choice for everyone involved. As ASPCA says, “We fight for animals. Will you join the