🐕 Adopt, don't shop 🐈

You can make the difference

Homelessness in America not only affects people, it affects pets. Did you know that only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home? Homeless animals outnumber homeless people 5 to 1. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes.

One problem shelters are fighting to overcome is what they term "Big Black Dog syndrome". Big black dogs (BBDs) are consistently the hardest dogs to place—even if they're friendly, well trained, and in perfect health. This may be due to a number of factors, including fear stigma against certain breed types, attraction to ads and the fact that black dogs often do not photograph as well as lighter coated ones, and the fact that black dogs are often portrayed as aggressive in film and on television. Organizations have started campaigns to educate the public about BBD syndrome. Similarly, shelters often have difficulty placing black cats due to common superstitions regarding black cats as bringers or harbingers of bad luck. Some shelters also have policies halting or limiting adoption of black cats immediately prior to Halloween for fear that the animals will be tortured, or used as "living decorations" for the holiday and then abandoned.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Adopt a Pet

You'll Save Two Lives
Adopting an animal from a shelter or other type of rescue organization not only saves that one animal’s life, but it also saves the life of another animal who can now take the empty spot you’ve opened up. It’s a double good deed and a second chance for two animals who might otherwise not have gotten one.
You'll Save Money
Purchasing a fancy breeder dog or cat can set you back thousands of dollars, and that’s even before you get to the standard costs of annual pet care. Buy a pet from a pet store and not only will you be spending an equally large amount of money, but you’ll also be pretty likely to get an inbred animal from a puppy mill who is prone to expensive medical conditions.
Do Your Part to Put a Stop to Commercial Breeding
Puppy mills, also called commercial breeding facilities, are nightmares for the animals who find themselves there. Dogs and cats are kept in cages their entire lives, without proper nutrition, medical care, or companionship, and with no opportunity to get outside or experience love.
You'll get an Amazing Animal
All animals are different, and no animal is perfect. But rescued animals have a unique way of connecting with their humans. Maybe it’s their gratitude for being saved, or perhaps it’s the extra love they inherently warrant by nature of coming from a tough circumstance. Whatever the reason, a rescue pet will light up your life and bring near endless joy.
You'll Join a Community
Rescue organizations love their animals, and they will usually go out of their way to keep tabs on them. From alumni meet-ups and Facebook groups to adopter appreciation events and fundraising efforts, there are plenty of ways to stay involved and become part of a larger community of animal lovers.

👩‍💻 by Veronica Castellanos