Adoption Vs Breeder - Do Your Research Before Getting a Pet

There are many different places to go when looking to acquire a new pet. You can go through a breeder, pet shop, rescue organization, shelter, or someone who needs to place their own pet in a new home. Please do your research and consider the following things before you pick your pet.

Pets should not be used to make money for their owners. A lot of so called breeders do not breed their dogs or cats responsibly. A responsible breeder usually does not make much money on their litter when all the vet visits, vaccinations, possible C-sections, and other unexpected expenses are paid for. A good breeder breeds for the love of their breed and to keep a good line going, not for the money. A responsible breeder will be picky when allowing someone to buy one of their pets.

Keep this in mind. If you buy from a breeder who is only in it for the money, you are allowing them to keep making money. You are being part of the cycle. If you do decide to get a pet from a breeder, do your research. Contact others who have bought from them. Are their pets healthy and free of genetic problems? Does the breeder keep in touch with them? Does the breeder have a health guarantee for their pets? These are questions you want to know before considering this breeder.

Pet shops are another option for getting a pet. Most of these places say they do not get their pets from puppy mills but no matter what they say, I have to wonder what kind of responsible breeder would ship their pets to a store where they will have no control over who buys them. Pets should not be used as products. They are living creatures and should not be kept in windows luring people in like a new purse at a mall. I know many people pay thousands of dollars for these so called pure breed puppies and kittens with papers because they feel they are rescuing them. In reality, they are allowing more litters to come in and for the pet shop to make even more money exploiting these poor dogs and cats. A lot of pets from pet stores have genetic defects because they come from unhealthy, overbred parents. Yes, all pets deserve a loving home no matter where they come from, but please explore other options before buying from a pet shop.

You can find almost any breed of pet you are looking for at a rescue organization. If you are looking for a certain breed of dog or cat you can find a local rescue for that breed online. For example, if I was looking for a pug, I would look up AZ Pug Rescue and I would find APARN: AZ Pug Adoption and Rescue Network. They have a lot of great purebreed pugs of all ages for adoption. They make sure they are all upto date on vaccines and are spayed or neutered. I adopted one of my pugs from them and she was such a great dog. There are rescues for almost every breed of dog and cat. There are even rescues for other pets such as bunnies, iguanas, tortoises, etc. Just make sure the organization is reputable. Do your research. Getting a new pet should not be an impulse buy so take your time when choosing where to get it from.

Shelters and your local animal control and humane society are great options when you want to give a pet a second chance. Many pets are euthanized every day simply because no one wants them. Most of them are perfectly healthy and would make great pets, but over population, continued breeding, and irresponsible pet ownership strips them of the chance to get a family. Pets that come from these places are usually so grateful and loyal. It's like they know you have rescued them. Shelters don't just have mixed breeds either. A lot of pure breed pets find their way to these places because they get lost or their owners give them up.

You can always adopt from someone who for whatever reason just can not take care of their pet anymore. A lot of people place ads in newspapers or Craigslist when they need to place their pet. You could be saving a pet a trip to a shelter and helping someone out who really wants to do the best for their pet.

As you can see, their are many options available when you are ready to get a pet. It basically comes down to adoption vs breeder. Do you want to rescue or buy. No matter what option you choose, please do your research. Getting a pet is not like buying a pair of shoes. You want to make sure you are getting a healthy pet from a reputable place or person.

Andrea Markie is a professional pet sitter who has 10 years experience working in the veterinary and pet care field. To visit her website visit http://www.andreaspetsittingandboarding.com

To learn more about pet care visit Adoption vs Breeder