Pet Adoptions Vs. Buying

Considerations

• Choosing between a purebred pet or a mixed breed, and whether you would like a baby animal or an adult has pros and cons and depends on personal preferences. Purebred animals have more predictable personalities, but mixed breeds are usually healthier. Adult animals have likely had prior training and can be less energetic than babies. If money is a consideration, adopting is often cheaper that buying.

Sources

• When buying a pet it is important to know the source from which the animal has come. Responsible breeders do not breed animals for profit, but to better the breed. They check the health, temperament and genetics of their animals prior to breeding. They often show their animals in competitions such as obedience or agility. Dogs sold in pet stores usually come from so-called puppy mills--mass dog breeding facilities that keep their dogs in poor conditions and use them only for breeding. Animal shelters or rescues sometimes have information on their animals' histories, but often, the animals come in as strays with no history.

Pros and Cons

• Buying a pet from a responsible breeder means you are getting a healthy animal, but it can be expensive. The ASPCA recommends not purchasing a puppy from a pet store because these fuel puppy mills, enabling the mill to continue treating dogs inhumanely and churning out unhealthy dogs. Puppy mill puppies often have genetic defects as millers do not check breeding dogs for health and temperament. Adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue is cheaper and prevents the animal from euthanization, but these animals can often be shy, possibly due to abuse in their previous homes.

Options

• For those who want a purebred animal but cannot afford a puppy from a responsible breeder, there are purebred rescue groups. The animals that come from purebred rescue groups are usually adults, though occasionally baby animals are available. Shelters with purebred animals might call the purebred rescue group if they have a purebred dog or cat. Purebred rescues use foster homes for their animals to encourage socialization and to provide a stable environment for an otherwise homeless animal.

Expert Insight

• According to dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, puppy mill puppies are weaned too early, missing out on a crucial socialization period with their littermates. This can create puppies who don't know how to interact with other animals or humans and can increase the risk of future aggression. Stilwell states that there is a large pet overpopulation in the United States, with 4 to 5 million dogs on average euthanized annually due to a lack of homes. Adopting can reduce this number.