Why is adopting a rescue pet better than purchasing from a pet store or breeder?

There are many good reasons why adopting a pet is a good idea. I’ll go over all the pros of adopting a rescue pet. I’ll also talk about the challenges. Pets from a pet store or a breeder need a home too, so I’ll let you know some reasons why people go this route and I’ll warn you of things to be careful of when buying a pet.

Save a life

Adopting a rescue pet saves that animal's life. A human took care of their pet and the human’s life circumstances changed and they could no longer keep the pet. Sometimes people find a home for their pet with friends or family. I’ve seen posts on Facebook, species-related message boards and other social media telling the story of the pet, why the animal needs to be rehomed, and asking if anyone would take them. It can be dangerous to rehome a pet to someone you don’t know because people sometimes take pets and use them in bad ways, like bait for a dog fight.   

Sometimes they surrender their pet to a shelter. This usually involves a fee and some shelters are full so they won’t accept new pets. Many shelters euthanize animals that don’t find homes.

Some people do animal rescue from their home.  If a pet owner knows a pet rescuer, they may give their pet to that rescuer.  Animal rescuers are usually very good at vetting potential adopters so they can be confident that the pet is going to a good forever home.

Finally, some pet owners just literally abandon their pet. The human moves and leaves the pet behind or they bring the pet to a park and just leave. This can be really dangerous for the pet, as they are not used to being in the wild.  They could get killed by other animals, run over by a car, be unable to find food or water, or any number of bad outcomes.  One of my cats was found in my local park, I took him in and gave him a home.  One of my pigs was caught by animal control wandering the streets of a nearby city.  They brought him to a shelter and I found him there. Those were two happy endings, but it doesn’t usually end up like that.

Your pet is often already trained

You can find rescue puppies and rescue kittens, but most often when you adopt a rescue pet it is a little bit older. That means it usually has some basic housetraining. An older pet is usually more settled and easier to deal with, although each animal is different.

You have a good idea of your pet’s personality when you adopt a pet

When you adopt an older rescue pet, you have a better idea of what the animal’s personality is like.  You can see if it is an active and engaging hamster, a quiet dog who likes to sit on the couch with you, or a cat who likes to play with you. 

Animals often go through a behavioral evaluation when they are in a rescue or a shelter, so these experienced professionals can give you an idea of the pet’s personality. I was told by the shelter that my cat, Cap’m Nick Furry was not a friendly cat.  They said he should be an outdoor cat and to never expect him to be loveable.  We keep him inside, but he has a lot of space.  As the years go by, he is getting more and more used to us. 

Many pet rescues and shelters want to be sure that your home is the pet’s forever home, so they will provide you with support if any problems come up.

Pet adoption is usually cheaper

Most shelters and rescues charge a fee, but it is usually a fraction of what a pet store or breeder will charge.  The fee helps to offset the costs of spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and health care that the animal may have needed after being rescued. Many of these costs would need to be taken care of by you if you buy a pet. 

You are supporting an organization that helps animals

Most rescues or shelters are nonprofit organizations or an independent person or group that is working to care for animals.  Any money you spend on fees or donations to these groups helps them save more animals.

Challenges with pet adoption

Animal rescues and shelters can be very wary of people wanting to adopt a pet.  The animal has already gone through some kind of trauma, losing its home.  They want to be sure that the next home the pet goes to will treat the pet right and not surrender it again. So there can be a lot of hoops to jump through and a lot of invasive questions.  Often there is a waiting period. They might come out and visit your home.  They might ask for references.  They’ll ask who you live with, if you rent or own, and your past history with pets. Some people get offended by these questions. I would love to adopt a cockatiel.  I watch videos of them all the time.  The cockatoo rescue I contacted won’t adopt the pets to anyone with an attached house, which I have. I could go out and buy one, but if the neighbors start complaining about the noise, I might have to give the bird up. So if I can’t adopt, I’ll just keep watching videos.

Rescue pets may have been abused so they may need extra time to warm up and they may never be really cuddly. They’ve had a life before they came into yours.  I often wonder what my pets did before I got them.  I got some of my guinea pigs from a former owner, so I know what their life was like.  Most of my pets - I can only wonder.

If you want a purebred or a certain breed, you may have trouble finding exactly what you are looking for. However, there are lots of rescues that specialize in certain types of pets. There are Siamese cat rescues, Maine coon cat rescues, greyhound dog rescues, cockatoo rescues, pit bull rescues, snake rescues, rat rescues…you get the idea.

If you want to buy, buy from a reputable breeder

A “puppy mill” is a place where dogs are bred with no concern for the animal. Female dogs have litter after litter in inhumane living situations.  The biggest interest of a puppy mill is making profits. Sometimes the puppies are sickly because the mother is sick, or they are inbred and prone to genetic problems.  Puppy mills supply many pet stores and dog sellers.

Pet stores are also most interested in making a profit, rather than the well-being of the animals they sell. So you may get a pet who is sick or mistreated. Sometimes I think that pet store pets need to be rescued and they need a home just like shelter pets. But when you buy from a pet store, you are supporting that model that mistreats animals.

A reputable breeder cares for animals.  They often support shelters and rescues. They will provide you with resources for the care and training of your vet.  They may not advertise widely and they may be difficult to find, but they are the best alternative to a rescue pet, especially if you are very interested in a purebred of a certain breed and can’t find a rescue that fits your criteria.

In Conclusion

I strongly support getting a rescue pet, but I know there are other alternatives that work for many people.  Adopting a rescue pet saves the life of that animal and supports an organization that cares for animals. Breeders, puppy mills, and pet stores produce a new domesticated animal that will need care for its entire life. A reputable breeder cares for animals, but many pet stores that sell animals and puppy mills do not, so you are giving money to a company that contributes to the problem of unwanted pets and animal abuse.

Rescuing pets has the following advantages:

• Saves a life
• Your pet is already trained
• You know your pet’s personality
• It is usually cheaper
• You are supporting an organization that helps animals

Challenges with pet adoption include:

• Invasive questions from the rescue designed to be sure you are a good pet owner
• Your pet has had some emotional trauma leaving its own home and may have been treated poorly

No matter where you get your pet from, you can provide a great home and life for an animal, which will bring you great joy as well. Make sure you know what you are getting into when you adopt or buy a pet so your home will be your pet’s forever home.

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