When choosing your next pet, it is often a persons first thought to buy a puppy or kitten, but don’t forget that there are millions of animals in shelters who need a home. According to ASPCA, around 6.3 million animals enter shelters in the US each year. Just over 900,000 of them are euthanized if they are left unadopted. Listed below are some reasons why rescuing an animal may be even better than buying from a breeder.
When animals live in a reliable shelter, they are assessed for health, potty-training, and temperament. You will better know if the pet you are choosing is more active or sedentary, more social or reclusive, or the myriad other variances in personality that can’t be seen immediately. This means you will know more about your new companion so you can make the best choice for your household.
Raising a newly born puppy or kitten is a difficult process. Much like raising a human baby, it involves many sleepless nights and constant attention. Since rescues typically have more life behind them than the average pup/kitten, they also tend to be more steps along in the process of potty training and resolving behavioral issues. This will mean more restful hours of sleep for you.
Older pets are, in most cases, much better with kids than younger animals. Puppies and kittens have not experienced the necessary socialization to understand things like how rough to play as well as being more prone to biting, scratching, and more. The reverse can also be a danger. Since baby pets are more fragile than older ones, kids may get overly excited and accidentally injure a younger animal.
Older pets are typically much more care and mellow around children which can lead to a much more comfortable experience as a parent adding a new member to the family.
Dogs with experiences of abandonment are often the most eager to build a relationship with a new loving home. As soon as a safe, comfortable space is made available, they will jump at the chance to experience the joy your bond can bring to them.
Cats love to belong as well. Older cats tend to be much more relaxed and sedentary whereas a kitten’s nights often consist of jumping on any surface they don’t belong on and scratch up furniture.
Rescue pets not only lack the often exorbitant base price of buying a puppy or kitten, they also have many more of their costly needs dealt with already. Rescue pets have already been vaccinated, health checked, and fixed. A puppy or kitten requires all of those services but instead of them being covered by the shelter, they’ll be done on your dime.
When you rescue a pet, not only are you saving it from a difficult life, but you may also be bypassing many of the struggles that come with raising a new baby animal from birth.
