Benefits of Adopting a Pet From a Shelter

Sometimes I get a funny reaction when new acquaintances meet my two dogs, Chewie and Miles. The look of surprise and incredulous response - "You mean she came from the streets? He came from the pound?!"

So many people have the misconception that rescued dogs are less than other dogs. Are children less than other children because they came through the foster home system or are raised in single parent homes? Are the children that come from the "perfect" set of parents better than other children? We can all think of examples of the hard-luck children that make good and the children with everything going for them making a mess of their lives. So why do we assume homeless pets are less than other pets? I'd like to help set the record straight: there are many reasons to adopt a shelter pet.

1) You will Save Money

Adopting a pet from a shelter can cost a lot less than buying a pet at the pet store or from a breeder, especially when taking into account the fees for neutering and vaccination. Beyond the medical care, shelters provide education about how to care for pets, how to introduce your new pet to your other animals, how to deal with behavioral problems, etc., so you also get an entire support system for free.

2) You Will Get a Healthy Pet

Since most shelters give their animals vaccinations, feed them healthy diets, and neuter them before adoption, these pets are happy and healthy. Shelters also pay close attention to the temperament of the animals, in order to match these pets with the most appropriate owners possible. Sometimes pet owners take on pet ownership before they are ready, without proper circumstances or knowledge, or without the necessary commitment, but through adoption these pets get a new chance to find great owners who will commit to keeping them fit and content.

3) You'll Get a Great Companion

Pets really do become our best friends. They make us smile and they love us unconditionally. Owning pets has even been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as helping with loneliness and depression. And all these great benefits have nothing to do with a pet's breeding.

4) You Won't Be Supporting Puppy Mills or Pet Stores

Puppy mills have received a lot of bad press lately, and rightly so. These mills put profits above the welfare of the dogs, which means that the dogs are treated cruelly and often kept in cages. Pet stores buy these puppy mill dogs, and many people who buy from the stores are not aware that they are supporting these horrible places, but by adopting a pet you can be sure that you are actually supporting a great cause for great animals.

5) You are Saving a Life

Sometimes we forget that most of the animals that become homeless are great pets that had less than stellar owners or the owners had to face insurmountable obstacles that made keeping their pet impossible. The circumstances can vary greatly but the bottom line is - rescued pets are wonderful animals that deserve love and a chance to live as much as any pet.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, between three and four million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because people are not able to keep their pets, shelters are not able to house them all, and not enough people adopt animals. By adopting these pets, which have been left by their owners through no fault of their own, we can save them from being euthanized.

It is a common misconception that shelter pets have bad breeding, but do not assume that pound pooches do not have purebred breeding, as often the dogs that breeders cannot sell end up in shelters. If you really want a certain type of dog, you can also check out local rescue leagues that tend to specialize in certain breeds. And do not forget that one of the best adoptions is the older, wiser, already-potty trained pet. Sure, we hear that puppies are more readily accepted by the pets already in the household, but bringing in new older pets is do-able. Very do-able. It just takes a little know-how and patience. If you don't have the patience to acquaint stranger pets to each other then you certainly don't have the patience to raise a puppy.

Unless your purpose for having a dog in your life is to have a show dog, or to produce purebred puppies to sell to worthy pet parents, I strongly believe you should look into adoption from the shelter first. And if you still feel purebreds or breeder dogs are smarter, just take a look around at the great work former shelter pets are doing. Shelter pets have been rescued to go on to do great work for performers, the military, the justice system, and as therapy animals - just to name a few examples. Granted, breeding can help accentuate specific genes for certain desired traits but environment has a lot to do with molding a pet or a person.

When a pet is given love and a chance, MAGNIFICENT things can happen! No matter where they come from.

Janus Moncur - The Co-Creative Coach(TM)- is a Certified Professional Coach specializing in Success Strategies. Janus is the CEO and Founder of Co-Creative Coaching, LLC. She works with individuals as well as groups to define direction, conquer challenges, and navigate transitions on the ride toward re-creating one's personal and professional success. For more information or a free sample consultation session, please feel free to connect with Janus at http://www.theco-creativecoach.com.

Benefits of Joining Social Networking For Pet Lovers Sites

To share interests and to communicate with adopted animal owners, an interesting platform is provided by the internet. It is a very unique and innovative concept. On an animal social website, communities of online pet owners get together, to share interests and interact with each other in their own time. Pet symptoms and pet symptom diagnosis information is available on the pet lovers social networking sites which makes care an easier affair.

Interactive sessions:

According to the animal in question and their own tastes, adopted animal owners are able to construct profile pages. According to the personality of the these the ready made options can further be easily customized. Owners of canines, felines, birds and reptiles can share various inputs, experiences and views through various interactive sessions held regularly. They are fun and within the 24x7 forum. As a social community for owners, this idea has become increasingly popular the world over.

To form a community, pet social networking helps to connect pet owners and adopted animal from across the globe. In a very easy and convenient manner, indulgence in the social networking site offers drag and drop options to customize and add information to the profile pages. Information such as the availability of an expert veterinarian in a particular region, how to go about finding a trainer, expert advice etc. is easily available on the adopted animal networking sites.

Finding required information:

All owners are concerned about the pet health and lifestyle of the animals in their care. Pet owners can also search for playmates for their adopted animals online. Tips on care, information on caring and grooming of adopted animals; pictures, pet rescue, adoption etc. can be shared with the help of adopted animal networking sites. This concept is a fresh one, and it is climbing the charts of popularity quite rapidly. The sessions held for the pet owner social community are very interactive and more and more members are now joining the bandwagon.

With the personalized options offered on the web to owners, participation becomes an informative and exciting option. On these sites, various features are provided in which pet health, pet lifestyle, availability of expert pet advice and expert pet trainer info becomes easier to find. Pets and owners are able to mingle with other enthusiasts on the social networking forums.

There is no reason for your adopted animal to remain out of the league. These networks are a great way of finding information about the animal, methods of adopting an animal and also a great way of showing off your adopted animal to a friend. It is the free to join feature of the social networking sites for pets that enable you to share stories, videos and pictures about your pets through different websites on the internet without a worry about the cost. Other people get inspired and adopt a beautiful lifestyle with a pet when you relive your wonderful times with the adopted animal in your custody. So much for animal care and protection!

There are a number of different social networking sites for internet users to socialize on the World Wide Web. Social networking for pet lovers is also available for animal enthusiasts to explore.

Pets and Their Benefits

A pet is an animal adopted by humans for the sake of companionship and enjoyment. Another term for a pet is "household animal". Usually, pets are kept for their loyalty, playful characteristics, desirable appearance, or just simply because of the joy they give to their respective owners. May it be a dog, a cat, or rodents playing on their hamster cages, owning them will give you benefits. It's been observed and proven, pets can give health benefits and happiness for their owners.

Anyone who has experienced to love a pet may prove to the world how much joy and inner satisfaction it can bring. For the past years, researches conducted all over the globe laid down scientific evidences to prove that adopting pets can dramatically improve one's life, physically and emotionally. Pets are beneficial in relieving stress, preventing heart disease, and relieving loneliness and depression.

Here are just some of the studies conducted:

* According to a researcher at the State University of New York at Buffalo named Dr. Karen Allen, people suffering hypertension who adopted or cared for a pet had lower blood pressure readings compared to those who did not own a pet. * The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, a study published in 1999 states that people of old age who own a pet tend to have better physical health in contrast to people who own none. * People who enjoy the company of their pets make fewer doctor visits especially for non-serious medical conditions according to The National Institute of Health. * In a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) in the year 2002, 92 respondents said that they acquired significant health improvements from their pets. * Heart patients who owned pets had a good chance for long-time survival than patients who didn't own pets according to the study conducted by Dr. James Lynch of Life Care Foundation. * Eastern Kentucky University assistant professor Dr. Meredith Wells surveyed businesses that permit pets in the workplace and found that employees highly believe that animals reduce one's level of stress and boosted their health.

Of course, these benefits can be applied to the general public. Pets can help anyone of any age or status to establish a deep connection with other people and cultures. If you are a person that have a very serious personality and a hard-driven persona, playing with your dog or cat can help you escape from the daily stress that you are struggling with. Caring for a pet may highly establish a child's personality, giving them a sense of empathy and responsibility.

Having a pet can fight depression and over-loneliness since the bond linking between the two creatures creates a certain purpose in life. Walking your dog gets you into the real world and also encourages exercise. Pets can be a great comfort in times of grief, since their affection is highly unconditional. They are attentive, and nonjudgmental listeners.

Even in the four corners of the prison cells, pets serve a therapeutic role. One good example is the Ohio Corrections System, wherein inmates are matched with a dog and go through a 10-week course with them. They should teach the dog with basic commands and house training. The dogs cared by them are then adopted out by the local humane society. The inmates form tight bonds and a loving relationship with their dogs, and saying good-bye is very hard, but the experience of caring for another creature is invaluable for men like them who have often had harsh lives.

Own a pet now. Walk your dog. Cuddle your cat. Watch your hamster cages with those cute little hamster. You'll surely enjoy every bit of it.

David D. Warren enjoys writing for The Rabbit Hutch Shop which sells hamster cages and large rabbit hutches as well as a host of additional products.

The Benefits of Pet Adoption

There are many reasons why adopting a pet from a pet adoption agency, such as a shelter or rescue, is a good idea.

Pet Stores

There has been a lot of negative press about pet stores, especially in their treatment of puppies, and a lot of this is merited. Many pet stores are still buying their puppies at a discounted price through puppy mills, where the puppies are inbred, mistreated, and not given adequate veterinary care, food or shelter.

It's not only puppies that have been reported to be abused. Just recently an employee of Petland, a pet store back east, was charged with animal cruelty after a picture was taken of her holding two dead wet rabbits on Facebook. She said that the manager took the picture after she drowned the rabbits because they were fighting too much with each other.

We cannot continue to support such stores. Though not all of them are bad, there are no guarantees on how your future pets have been bred and treated, and stopping support will be the only way to stop them.

Breeders

Many people also want to get their animals through breeders, especially if they want purebred animals. The problem with breeders is that while they are certainly more legit than most pet stores, they still practice inbreeding, and just like in humans, this can lead to less intelligent animals. And they are also often overpriced. In addition, purebreds are more often more susceptible to diseases than mixed breeds.

Pet Adoption Agencies

There are pet adoption agencies all over that offer adoptable pets that need good, loving homes. Most animals are already housebroken, they are usually mixed breeds and are therefore have higher immunity against diseases, they are more affordable (sometimes free!), and they really need your help, sometimes even to save their lives. It is always worth it to adopt a pet as the additional to your family that you are looking for.

There are pet adoption agencies [http://www.cherokeepetparade.com] all over that offer adoptable pets that need good, loving homes. Most animals are already housebroken, they are usually mixed breeds and are therefore have higher immunity against diseases, they are more affordable (sometimes free!), and they really need your help, sometimes even to save their lives. It is always worth it to adopt a pet as the additional to your family that you are looking for.

Animal Adoption - Costs, Benefits and Considerations

Adopting an animal can be an excellent choice for pet lovers. The advantages of adopting are numerous; costs are lower than buying a pet, animal shelters offer a large variety of companion animals, most mixed breed animals do not inherit breed specific health issues, older animals in shelters already have developed personalities and therefore it's easier to find a pet that will match with your lifestyle, older pets will be spayed or neutered and vaccinated, you may receive discounts for spay or neuter programs if you adopt a young pet, you can adopt a bonded animal pair or litter mates at reduced cost, and shelter workers are genuinely concerned that you find the right pet for your lifestyle.

Cost of animals and types of animals up for adoption vary by areas. In my area a puppy adoption is $150 and an adult cat is only $60. When you compare the cost of buying a pet, to adopting an animal, it's much cheaper to adopt. For example typical cost to purchase a puppy are $300-$600, plus first year vaccinations $150-$300 and possibly some health tests not provided by the breeder which can add another $50-$200. Most often when you adopt a puppy from the shelter the adoption fee insures the puppy has already been treated for fleas, passed a health examination, received vaccinations (if the animal is old enough), and has been tested for parvovirus. Some shelters in the south also test dogs for heart worm.

In dogs, distemper, parvo-influenza, and heart worm are terminal illnesses, if they are untreated. Adult cats adopted from the shelter are spayed or neutered, vaccinated for distemper, tested for Feline Aids(FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FELV) (which can both be terminal illnesses), and are treated for fleas. When you compare this with the cost of purchasing a cat ($150-$1000) or taking on a "free kitten", animal adoption again proves to be much cheaper. Typical costs for FIV and FELV testing are $45-$75 for each test, spaying at maturity $45-90, or neutering $30-$75, and first year vaccinations $150-$300. So your "free kitten" can cost more than $500 for the first year of medical care. Additionally, many shelters also test for other diseases such as worms, and the shelter will be open and honest about known disabilities such as hearing or vision impairments.

Shelter employees and volunteers do a great job of helping you pick an animal that is right for your lifestyle. Typically, there are wide varieties of adoptable pets available. Most shelters have dogs and cross-breed puppies ranging from tiny to large, short-haired to fluffy, and personalities that range from shy lap dogs to high energy running companions. Cats selection can ran from large Maine-coon mixes, to high energy Siamese mixes, to fluffy mellow Angoras. My local shelter also services other companion animal adoption such as ferrets, pot belly pigs and goats. Occasionally, shelters have purebred animals available for adoption. (Also, see my article on purebred adoptions).

There are other benefits of adopting an animal from a shelter. Mixed bred animal may be healthier and calmer than some purebred animals. Certain purebred often have genetic disorders (due to the inbreeding). For example, many large purebred dogs develop hip dysplasia (a malformation of the hip joint that causes arthritis). Small purebred dogs with pug noses may develop respiratory disorders. Disorders associated with specific breeds can be found in mixed breed dogs and cats, but are far less likely to occur. Older pets available for adoption from the shelter have developed personalities and therefore it is easier to adopt an animal that will be right for your household. For example, if you have children, the shelter worker will introduce you to the pets that are the best suited to your household. If you're single and want a jogging partner, the shelter worker can introduce you to a healthy high energy dog companion. You may think you want a dog, but after speaking with a shelter worker, realize your lifestyle is far more suited to an adult cat. Some shelters provide ongoing benefits, such as reduced vaccination cost, reduced training costs or provide a list of auxiliary services.

If you want to select from a wide variety of pets, the best time of year is during spring and early fall which are breeding seasons. Shelters are inundated with strays. Christmas is a bad time of year to adopt an animal for several reasons; many people adopt at this time of year so selection will be limited, it hard on the animal (due to lack of routines and chaos that often accompanies the holiday) and, it's may curtail your travel plans. (See my article on Christmas animal adoption).

To find an adoption center in your area contact the Humane Association of the United States, check with a local veterinarian, or inquire at a locally owned pet supply stores. Each year the United States destroys more than 4,000,000 companion animals. By adopting an animal from a shelter you are saving a life. However, please consider the long term care required, before you purchase or adopt a pet.

Kate Garvey is a former Vet Tech and animal rights supporter. She teaches Sound Healing Workshops (throughout the US) and treats clients by appointment in the San Diego area. For more information on how you can use sound for optimal health please visit http://www.InstituteOfSoundHealing.com

Kate is also a freelance writer, published author, and the author of several books; "Aging, Death and Euthanasia-A Guide for People with Pets", "Summer Pet Care Tips", and "The Low Risk Guide for Real Estate Investment."

Benefits of Adopting an Older Cat

There are countless things that get better with age, and your furry feline companion is one of them. While everyone loves a kitten -- let's face it, a kitten is cute, cuddly, and a never-ending bundle of energy -- an older cat can make an ideal companion for some people. Each year, millions of cats are euthanized in shelters all across the country, and while cats of all ages are victims of this practice, it is often the less frequently adopted older cats that are put down in order to make room for cute and highly adoptable kittens. If you're considering adding a cat to the family, why not consider one that's already been trained, has lived through the growing pains stage, and is more interested in keeping you company than in chasing birds or tearing apart your furniture?

Who Should Adopt An Older Cat?

For a single person living in an apartment or condominium, a retired couple, or a household without children or other pets, an older cat can be the perfect companion. In particular, choosing an older female cat means you'll be adding a family member that's litter box trained, spayed, and happier to stay inside on the couch than to go outdoors. An older cat has usually had all of their shots, and is responsible and calm enough to be left home alone. If you're looking for the sort of companion that's well behaved, self-sufficient, a homebody, and always happy to see you, then an older female cat may be the best match for your household.

If you live in a larger space and your family includes children, it may be a better choice to adopt a young and energetic adult cat, rather than a kitten. While kittens are undeniably adorable, children have a tendency to play rough and, just like the kitten, have relatively short attention spans. It's inevitable that your kids will get bored with paying attention to the kitten once the novelty wears off, and vice versa, leaving you not only with kids to keep out of trouble, but a mischievous kitten that needs frequent supervision. A young adult cat is still fresh and energetic enough to entertain your kids, is better suited to handle rough play than the small and fragile kitten, and is also self-sufficient enough to entertain themselves when nobody's paying attention to them. If you're really brave and have the space, consider adopting two around the same age, and your new furry friend will have no shortage of playmates.

Ideal Companions For Life

Senior citizens are often wonderful pet parents to older cats, especially if both the cat and the pet parent are around the same age and stage of life. Many times, older cats end up in shelters because their owners have passed away, leaving the cat without a friend and without a home. Adopting a cat that's been rescued from this situation is perfect for a senior citizen, who may often have too much free time and find him or herself feeling lonely. For both the cat and the owner, it can be the perfect partnership that lasts the rest of their life.

Knight In Shining Armor

An older cat that's given a home is more likely to adapt easily to the situation, and to be grateful and appreciative. Much like human beings, cats collect experiences with age, both of the positive and negative variety. Even after months living in a cage or on the street, an older cat can remember the benefits of living in a comfortable, safe home with loving owners, and will be ecstatic to have returned to that situation. Particularly if the cat has been de-clawed and lost means of survival in the wild, they will look at you as their own personal savior.

In many cases, older cats that were raised in homes that had multiple pets, particularly other cats, will feel sad and depressed at the loss of companionship. If your home already includes an older cat, or even a young adult cat, it's a good time to consider adopting an older cat that's not only lost his human family, but his feline friend, as well. Similarly, older cats that are disabled or have medical issues need love and care more than any other, and yet have the most difficult time finding homes. While not appropriate for homes with kittens, puppies, or small children, giving an older or disabled cat a place to call home and live out his final years in peace makes all the difference in the world, for both of you.

PetHub.com is a place for you to store and manage your pet's stuff. Join our Facebook fan page to keep up with our latest news.

Copyright c 2010, PetHub, Inc. All rights reserved.

Surprising Health Benefits for Pet Owners

Did you know that there are key health benefits that can

result from owning a pet? Having one can enhance your

physical, mental and social wellbeing.

1. How can a pet help your physical health?

Owning a dog, for instance, will encourage you to get more

exercise. With your faithful friend at your side, you're

much more likely to go for a walk. Walking is one of the

best health activities you can do. While walking you're

also more likely to socially interact with your neighbors

because your special pal often acts as an ice-breaker.

Research led by Dr. Karen Allen at the State University of

New York at Buffalo shows that pets can help lower blood

pressure. Stockbrokers with high blood pressure were

studied to see what happened when they adopted a pet dog or

cat. Researchers concluded that having a pet nearby helps

control increases in blood pressure due to stress.

In his studies Alan Beck, ScD (Professor of Animal Ecology,

Purdue University) found that the simple act of petting

your dog slows your heart rate and causes your blood

pressure to drop.

An added health advantage from pet ownership is that

patients may live longer after heart attacks. Some doctors

recommend that a heart attack survivor adopt a dog because

research has shown that a faithful canine companion can

help prolong an owner's life.

2. How Can A Pet Improve Your Mental Health?

Sharing your life with a cat may help your mental health. A

study conducted at Australia's University of New England

found that people who own feline friends may experience

fewer psychiatric disturbances than those without cats.

Pets can help their owners overcome depression through

their companionship and unconditional love. They seem to

possess the natural ability to help you relax and enjoy

life more.

Pets can also help when you experience times of loneliness.

English poet, Alexander Pope, has stated that histories are

more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of

friends. According to a Chinese proverb, dogs have so many

friends because they wag their tails, not their tongues.

When you take care of a pet you have to develop a routine

of getting out, buying food and providing exercise. This

can help fight off depression and loneliness. The simple

responsibility of pet care can help you get your mind off

yourself and your problems.

3. How can a pet enhance your wellbeing in the area of

relationships?

American Animal Hospital Association President, Link

Wellborn, believes that pets are more than just a member of

the family - they're central to a healthy lifestyle.

Pets help lessen tension between family members and add a

lot of fun and unconditional love to the homes where they

live. When pets do cute and funny things - which they often

do - family members react by laughing and being more

relaxed.

If you don't have a pet yet, consider making one part of

your family, but make sure you have the time and resources

necessary to provide a stable loving home for your new

friend.

If you choose a dog as your new pal, remember this wise old

saying. "A dog is man's best friend." That's true in more

ways than one. You'll get unconditional love,

companionship, loyalty and relaxation in return for your

investment of time and material resources.

What a bargain!

Patricia Wagner offers informative tips and a f^ree newsletter to help you live a more more energetic lifestyle. Check out http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com. She is also an artist and you can view her original paintings at http://www.artbywagner.com

Benefits of Adopting an Older Cat

There are countless things that get better with age, and your furry feline companion is one of them. While everyone loves a kitten -- let's face it, a kitten is cute, cuddly, and a never-ending bundle of energy -- an older cat can make an ideal companion for some people. Each year, millions of cats are euthanized in shelters all across the country, and while cats of all ages are victims of this practice, it is often the less frequently adopted older cats that are put down in order to make room for cute and highly adoptable kittens. If you're considering adding a cat to the family, why not consider one that's already been trained, has lived through the growing pains stage, and is more interested in keeping you company than in chasing birds or tearing apart your furniture?

Who Should Adopt An Older Cat?

For a single person living in an apartment or condominium, a retired couple, or a household without children or other pets, an older cat can be the perfect companion. In particular, choosing an older female cat means you'll be adding a family member that's litter box trained, spayed, and happier to stay inside on the couch than to go outdoors. An older cat has usually had all of their shots, and is responsible and calm enough to be left home alone. If you're looking for the sort of companion that's well behaved, self-sufficient, a homebody, and always happy to see you, then an older female cat may be the best match for your household.

If you live in a larger space and your family includes children, it may be a better choice to adopt a young and energetic adult cat, rather than a kitten. While kittens are undeniably adorable, children have a tendency to play rough and, just like the kitten, have relatively short attention spans. It's inevitable that your kids will get bored with paying attention to the kitten once the novelty wears off, and vice versa, leaving you not only with kids to keep out of trouble, but a mischievous kitten that needs frequent supervision. A young adult cat is still fresh and energetic enough to entertain your kids, is better suited to handle rough play than the small and fragile kitten, and is also self-sufficient enough to entertain themselves when nobody's paying attention to them. If you're really brave and have the space, consider adopting two around the same age, and your new furry friend will have no shortage of playmates.

Ideal Companions For Life

Senior citizens are often wonderful pet parents to older cats, especially if both the cat and the pet parent are around the same age and stage of life. Many times, older cats end up in shelters because their owners have passed away, leaving the cat without a friend and without a home. Adopting a cat that's been rescued from this situation is perfect for a senior citizen, who may often have too much free time and find him or herself feeling lonely. For both the cat and the owner, it can be the perfect partnership that lasts the rest of their life.

Knight In Shining Armor

An older cat that's given a home is more likely to adapt easily to the situation, and to be grateful and appreciative. Much like human beings, cats collect experiences with age, both of the positive and negative variety. Even after months living in a cage or on the street, an older cat can remember the benefits of living in a comfortable, safe home with loving owners, and will be ecstatic to have returned to that situation. Particularly if the cat has been de-clawed and lost means of survival in the wild, they will look at you as their own personal savior.

In many cases, older cats that were raised in homes that had multiple pets, particularly other cats, will feel sad and depressed at the loss of companionship. If your home already includes an older cat, or even a young adult cat, it's a good time to consider adopting an older cat that's not only lost his human family, but his feline friend, as well. Similarly, older cats that are disabled or have medical issues need love and care more than any other, and yet have the most difficult time finding homes. While not appropriate for homes with kittens, puppies, or small children, giving an older or disabled cat a place to call home and live out his final years in peace makes all the difference in the world, for both of you.

PetHub.com is a place for you to store and manage your pet's stuff. Join our Facebook fan page to keep up with our latest news.

Copyright c 2010, PetHub, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Benefits of Pet Adoption

There are many reasons why adopting a pet from a pet adoption agency, such as a shelter or rescue, is a good idea.

Pet Stores

There has been a lot of negative press about pet stores, especially in their treatment of puppies, and a lot of this is merited. Many pet stores are still buying their puppies at a discounted price through puppy mills, where the puppies are inbred, mistreated, and not given adequate veterinary care, food or shelter.

It's not only puppies that have been reported to be abused. Just recently an employee of Petland, a pet store back east, was charged with animal cruelty after a picture was taken of her holding two dead wet rabbits on Facebook. She said that the manager took the picture after she drowned the rabbits because they were fighting too much with each other.

We cannot continue to support such stores. Though not all of them are bad, there are no guarantees on how your future pets have been bred and treated, and stopping support will be the only way to stop them.

Breeders

Many people also want to get their animals through breeders, especially if they want purebred animals. The problem with breeders is that while they are certainly more legit than most pet stores, they still practice inbreeding, and just like in humans, this can lead to less intelligent animals. And they are also often overpriced. In addition, purebreds are more often more susceptible to diseases than mixed breeds.

Pet Adoption Agencies

There are pet adoption agencies all over that offer adoptable pets that need good, loving homes. Most animals are already housebroken, they are usually mixed breeds and are therefore have higher immunity against diseases, they are more affordable (sometimes free!), and they really need your help, sometimes even to save their lives. It is always worth it to adopt a pet as the additional to your family that you are looking for.

There are pet adoption agencies [http://www.cherokeepetparade.com] all over that offer adoptable pets that need good, loving homes. Most animals are already housebroken, they are usually mixed breeds and are therefore have higher immunity against diseases, they are more affordable (sometimes free!), and they really need your help, sometimes even to save their lives. It is always worth it to adopt a pet as the additional to your family that you are looking for.