When most people want a dog, their first thought is to go right to someone who breeds the specific kind of dog they want without thinking about the shelter dogs who were once in that same position but were not as lucky as to find a forever home. There are many reasons why adopting is better than shopping for a dog.
If you have ever been to an animal shelter, you know how sad yet hopeful the dogs there are. These animals have never been shown the love they deserve before and they are stuck there watching as other dogs get adopted before them. When you adopt a dog you are not only showing it love and improving its quality of life, but also saving it. Shelter dogs are usually super sweet and friendly because they have been around all types of people and dogs, meaning they are extremely desensitized and chill animals just looking for love.
Animals that come from breeders are oftentimes coming from a backyard breeder which RSPCA says is, “Irresponsible breeding of animals in inadequate conditions with insufficient care, often by people with little experience or knowledge.” When that happens, the mother is usually not given sufficient care and oftentimes the puppies end up ill or have behavioral issues. With this comes breeders forcing the mom to have litters back to back just to make money, disregarding her health, as well as producing more dogs than they have room for and having them live in terrible conditions.
Most shelters are already overflowing with animals to the point where they can’t take any more, which ends up in owners just abandoning their dogs that they no longer want. While these dogs are being abandoned and these shelters overflowing, more and more dogs are being bred. With every dog that gets bought from a breeder, the overpopulation of dogs gets worse and worse.
Adopting is also helpful if you want an adult dog that you don’t have to worry about training. Most adult shelter dogs are already well-behaved and potty trained, which takes most of the work of training a puppy away. Adult dogs are also less hyper and have calmed down a bit more if that is what you are looking for. Paws Adoption Center writes, “Adult animals are better first-time pets for families. Adult animals are often gentler, calmer companions, and often are already trained.”
Last, instead of spending lots of money to purchase a dog directly from a breeder which is likely to have health issues, you could adopt a dog for much cheaper. According to Barkio “Adoption fees typically range from $50 to $300, depending on the shelter and location, and often include the cost of spaying/neutering, vaccinations, and a microchip. In contrast, buying a dog from a breeder can cost anywhere from $500 to over $5,000, depending on the breed.”
Overall, adopting a dog in need is much better than shopping for one. There are plenty of loving dogs out there who live every day, wishing someone would pick them up and show them love they have never experienced.
