"Make Pet Adoption Your First Option!"

We're all familiar with "the pound." It's the dismal place where stray, feral, and unwanted pets are kept in kennels, and given food, water, and (if they're lucky), very little attention until they are finally adopted or euthanized. These animals don't have a choice between living or dying; it's entirely in our hands. Of course, you could always just snag a free puppy or kitten from one of your friends or relatives. And yes, those little puppies eagerly wagging their tails in the pet store window are "sooo cute!" But, if you pause to take a look at the bigger picture, you will discover an ugly pattern going on: money-hungry people irresponsibly and heartlessly breed animals, they are sold to pet stores, people cave in and buy a few, and the remaining animals are placed in shelters where there is a high possibility that they will be senselessly "put down" after their limited stay at the shelter, which is usually 72 hours. The only way to break this pattern is to make pet adoption our first option when we decide to open our home and heart to a new pet. Yes, it may cost you a pretty penny, but here are the long-term benefits of adopting an animal.

1.You're a Hero!

I've never agreed with the idea that people have the right to take the life of innocent creatures who never asked to be born, and definitely never asked to be neglected and abandoned, wandering around homelessly. But until people wake up and laws are changed, animals who are perfectly healthy and sometimes are not even a year old, will die in shelters every day until people rescue them from that terrible situation. People have no idea what goes on behind closed doors, especially in an animal shelter that is understaffed and underpaid. Not everyone who works in an animal shelter is an ethical animal-lover, and for those who are pressured with a tight budget, they will do whatever they can get away with if it means having to spend less money. Sodium barbiturol is what the animals are injected with during EBI (euthanasia by injection), and it has been proven to be the most humane and painless way to euthanize an animal. But it's not cheap. Some shelters will resort to other illegal ways to euthanize animals, such as drowning, bludgeoning, and starving animals. When you adopt an animal, you may be doing them more justice than you think.

2. You've Made a Difference.

The positive results of adopting an animal will become obvious the minute you bring them home. In a shelter environment, pretty much the only time the animal gets attention is when a human hand sets a bowl of food into their kennel for them. There are no laps for them to curl up on, no owner-pet-bonding, no backyard to run around in, no belly rubs, and no toys. When you bring a pet home, you open up a whole new world to them filled with love and excitement. They now have a new house and family to explore rather than staring at their cage bars day after day. You've given a beautiful creature the life that they deserve, that would have been denied from them, if it weren't for you.

3. They Will Make a Difference in Your Life, Too.

If there's one thing you can always count on, it's your pet covering you with purrs or doggy kisses the minute you walk in the front door from a thankless day of work. Animals will never leave you feeling hurt, unloved, or un-appreciated. They will lick your hand appreciatively as you scratch behind their ears, and throb with purrs as you stroke their soft fur. Nothing is more courageous, protective, and loyal than a dog. What more can you ask for from a living entity?

Stay Committed.

Don't give up on your adopted pet if you experience difficulties, such as making messes on the carpet, growling at your neighbors, scratching furniture, or any other quality about your pet that may irritate you. There are books you can pick up that can teach you how to properly train your pet, and you can even find articles and forums online about different techniques to try when training your animal. There is no point in adopting an animal if you don't plan on committing to take full responsibility of your pet. There is a solution to every problem, and giving up on your pet shouldn't be an option. If you're adopting for the right reasons, you will have the patience and compassion within you to change bad behaviors of your pet.