Introduction
Many people consider pets an essential part of life. They get them for themselves or their families and for work or service. Most often, pets come to a person from shelters for homeless animals or from breeders in nurseries. Not so long ago, most people bought an animal from a cattery, but more and more people want to adopt it from a shelter (Rainwalk, 2022). Both paths have a right to exist; however, adopting from a shelter has more advantages for the owner and society.
Buying from Breeders
A person chooses an animal from a breeder, most frequently in situations where the breed of the future pet or its external qualities are essential to them. Sometimes, people want to become breeders; they need to get an animal with the correct pedigree and quality documents. Externally, the buying process looks straightforward and attractive, but there are some difficult moments.
Breeders sell almost exclusively young animals, and the owners are forced to teach the pets basic skills, vaccinate them, and accustom them to grooming. Sometimes, unscrupulous breeders try to sell sick or defective animals as healthy ones without lowering the price. Subsequently, these sick animals often end up on the street and in shelters, as the new owners were not ready for the moral and financial difficulties.
Finally, buying an animal from a shelter encourages undesirable practices such as excessive bleeding and frequent recurrent pregnancies (Why No One Should Ever Support a Dog Breeder, 2022). There is nothing wrong with purchasing an animal from a breeder if a person has dreamed of a particular breed and is ready for possible difficulties. However, there might be better solutions than buying from a breeder if a potential pet owner wants to make a friend without dreaming of a specific appearance.
Adopting from Shelters
Unlike buying an animal from a breeder, adopting it has many more benefits. First, shelters usually house animals of different breeds and ages. Most pets in these areas are mixed species and outbreeds, which are statistically healthier and live much longer than purebreds. This is an excellent opportunity for people on a budget, as it will be easier to choose a companion to your liking with a large selection. It is important that in most shelters, one can find the option to take the dog or cat home immediately.
First, one can arrange patronage for the pet, come to his shelter with food several times, and try to take a walk and play with him. A person has many more opportunities to establish an emotional connection with an animal from a shelter, as these animals are responsive to kindness and affection. In addition, pets from the shelter are often trained in basic skills, and it will be somewhat more accessible for a novice owner to adapt to a new life.
Adopting from a shelter also benefits pets and society. By taking a dog or cat from a shelter, a person reduces the number of homeless animals suffering without human attention and care. Reducing the population of homeless animals is vital for the people themselves since many pets without supervision can be dangerous and inconvenient (Kipperman & Rollin, 2022).
The increase in the number of people willing to take pets from a shelter instead of buying one from a breeder is a sign of growing social responsibility and concern for nature and society. A person indirectly takes care of the urban environment by taking an animal from the street into the family and surrounding it with love and care. Most often, dogs and cats in shelters are sterilized, which slows down the population growth of homeless pets. This can also benefit the new owner since he does not have to care for the pet’s offspring or worry about his health.
Finally, it is essential that people make space for new pets by adopting an animal from a shelter, giving more dogs and cats a chance to find their new homes. Furthermore, adopting a pet from a shelter can encourage the person to adopt a new friend from such an institution. This will further improve animal rotation in shelters and the situation with street pets.
Despite all the advantages, it is essential to note a few disadvantages associated with adopting from shelters. The most common problems in these animals are behavioral disturbances and stress reactions. Many animals end up in protection with a brutal fate, and sometimes, this can leave an imprint on their psyche (Friend & Bench, 2020). Behavioral disorders can be corrected, but they take time and attention, which may not be suitable for some people. Therefore, when deciding to adopt an animal from a shelter, one must be aware of these risks and the consequences of one’s decision.
Conclusion
In today’s world, there are several ways to get a pet. Purchasing from a breeder is still quite common but is slowly losing popularity. This is waning as more information has emerged about the negative consequences of such a choice and its associated risks. The most popular method of meeting a pet right now is by adopting it from a shelter. Adopting a dog or cat does not require high material costs and is suitable for almost everyone. At the same time, it helps to improve the situation with homeless animals and is a humane act that benefits society.
References
Why No One Should Ever Support a Dog Breeder. (2022). PETA. Web.
Friend, J. R., & Bench, C. J. (2020). Evaluating factors influencing dog post-adoptive return in a Canadian animal shelter. Animal Welfare, 29(4), 399–410. Web.
Kipperman, B., & Rollin, B. E. (2022). Ethics in veterinary practice: Balancing conflicting interests. John Wiley & Sons.
Rainwalk. (2022). Pet adoption statistics 2022. Rainwalk Pet Insurance. Web.