Seven Great Reasons to Adopt a Pet #RememberMeThursday

It's #RememberMeThursday - a day where we shed light on all of the animals in shelters and rescues who are waiting for their forever homes.

All of my cats (except for Lita, who was given to my dad by a family friend) have either been adopted from a shelter or a rescue.

Cats who find themselves in shelters or rescues are often unwanted - they have often been surrendered, abandoned, or returned. They may have been mistreated, neglected, or abused. Homeless cats and dogs find themselves in shelters and rescues through absolutely no fault of their own. They all deserve a loving home where they are adored and spoiled rotten.

Here are just a few great reasons to consider adopting a new pet.

You Save a Life: One of the greatest reasons to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue is that you save a life. Though many shelters and rescues strive to get every animal in their care adopted, the sad reality is that approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year, according to the ASPCA. While this number has decreased from 2.6 million in 2011, we still have a long way to go. Every time you adopt an animal, you are saving that animal's life and giving him or her the chance he or she deserves at a happy and loving home.

You Help Stop Cruel Breeding Practices: In kitten and puppy mills, female cats and dogs are impregnated repeatedly, forced to produce litter after litter while living with little to no human contact in horrible environmental conditions. When you choose to adopt from a shelter or rescue instead of buying a kitten or puppy from a pet store, you are helping stop these cruel breeding practices.




The Selection is Fantastic! Where else can you find such a great variety of looks and personalities? When I volunteered at Cat Care, we always had a big variety of kitties for people to adopt. We had adorable orange tabbies, tortoiseshells, pure white kitties, classic brown tabbies, Siamese, dilute tortoiseshells, orange and white kitties, solid gray cats, tuxedo kitties, beautiful black house panthers, calicos, and I even saw one Ocicat come through the shelter!

If you have your heart set on a purebred cat, you can usually find them in shelters or rescues. Search Petfinder for the breed you're seeking, and you'll likely find it at a shelter or rescue near you.

Shortly after Lita died, I searched for another Siamese or Siamese mix kitty on Petfinder and found about six kitties available for adoption near me. If your local shelters or rescues don't have the specific breed you're looking for, check out a breed-specific rescue, such as the Siamese Cat Rescue, Great Lakes Bengal Rescue, Purebred Plus, or Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue.

Less Expensive Fees: An adoption fee, even of a purebred cat or dog, is much less than buying from a pet store or directly from a breeder. Oftentimes, first vaccinations, spay/neuter, and microchips are included in the adoption fee, which can save you some money on the initial fees associated with being owned by a cat or dog.

Adoption is Good for Your Health and Well-Being: Numerous studies show that both cats and dogs are beneficial to our physical and psychological health. When you adopt a homeless pet, you can feel good that you also helped a pet in need.

Adoption Saves More Than One Animal: Not only are you saving a life by adopting a pet and giving him or her a loving home, you're helping other animals, too. When you adopt a pet, you're helping the shelter or rescue make space to care for another homeless pet in need. Your adoption fee also helps the shelter or rescue provide for the needs of the animals in their care.

You Might Inspire Others: When you adopt a pet, you might inspire your family and friends to do the same!

I know many of you have adopted cats or dogs. Please tell us something about your furry friend in the comments!