FEATURE
Not only that , bringing home a pet is a lifelong commitment . You have to ensure you can feed the animal and look after them in sickness .
Myth 4 : Pets are in shelters because they didn ’ t make good pets
This one definitely is a myth . Following are the main reasons why pets are given up :
• Owners are moving to housing that don ’ t allow pets ( 7 % dogs , 8 % cats )
• Allergies ( 8 % cats )
• Owner having personal problems ( 4 % dogs and cats )
• Too many or no room for litter mates ( 7 % dogs , 17 % cats )
• Owner can no longer afford the pet ( 5 % dogs , 6 % cats )
• Owner no longer has time for the pet ( 4 % dogs )
Myth 5 : Shelter pets have too much baggage
Rescued pets have full histories , something that can actually be GREAT for adopters .
Remember , all pets , even eight-week old puppies and kittens , have distinct personalities . Those personalities will either jive with your home and lifestyle or not . Work with rescue group or shelter staff to find the right fit for you .
( Source : http :// www . petfinder . com / pet-adoption / pet-adoption-information / misconceptions-petadoption /)
Here are 12 great reasons to adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue group
1 . Every dog or cat not purchased from a pet store or backyard breeder improves the pet overpopulation problem created by irresponsibility and greed .
2 . Adopting a dog or cat from a no-kill shelter can free up space for older or special needs pets that may not find new homes before the end of their natural lives .
3 . There are plenty of animals to choose from at most shelters . They come in every age , shape , size , coat colour and breed mix , and you can find purebreds at shelters as well . In fact , many breeds have their own rescue organisations ; so if you ’ re looking for a purebred , make sure to check both your local shelter and breed rescue organization .
4 . Compared to the cost of purchasing a pet , adopting one from an animal shelter is relatively inexpensive . And if you get a slightly older dog or cat , there ’ s a good chance he is already fully vaccinated and neutered .
5 . Adopting an older pet allows you to skip over the time consuming , often-frustrating puppy or kitten stage of development .
6 . Adopting a mature dog or cat also takes the guesswork out of determining what your pet will look like as an adult – what size she ’ ll grow to , the thickness and colour of her coat and her basic temperament , for example .
7 . Depending on his background , your older pet may already be housebroken or litter box trained and know basic obedience commands like come , sit , stay and down .
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