If I could choose one message to spread to everybody, it would be “adopt, don’t shop”. I know that everyone has seen pictures of pomskis or puggles plastered all over social media, and you’ve probably said at some point in your life that you want this particular breed of dog or this particular puppy. Of course, there’s no denying how cute a pomski or a puggle is, and there is some level of appeal in getting to peruse through every breed of dog and select your favorite one. Be that as it may, this attitude many people share about adopting a pet is more damaging than most people think. Millions of dogs die in shelters every year simply because people see more appeal in spending hundreds of dollars at a breeder rather than adopting a shelter dog for a small fee.

I walk dogs a few times a month at a small shelter right outside of Council Bluffs. I’ve lost count of the amount of friendly, adorable dogs that I’ve witnessed being stuck there for months on end. It’s frustrating to see, because I know how popular it is to seek out a purebred or a designer dog. In case you haven’t heard of the term designer dog, it’s the result of two different purebred dogs being bred together. For example, husky + pomeranian = pomski. I want everyone to be aware that not only is buying these types of dogs unnecessary, it’s downright damaging. Purebred dogs tend to have worse temperaments and health than mutts, and if you mix two purebreds together, there’s always a chance that the resulting puppy is going to inherit these negative traits from both parents.

However, most of the public doesn’t consider this when adopting a pet. According to the humane society, only about 20% of dogs are adopted from shelters. This means that 80% of dogs come from breeders, pet stores, and puppy mills. This is an issue that results in poor health and overproduction of animals, but it’s also an issue that could be easily fixed. I hate seeing lovable dogs sit in shelters for months and months, but if Americans universally made an effort to look for their new pets at shelters rather than breeders, we could avoid the euthanasia of millions of animals every year. I love dogs, and I know a lot of other people do too (how could you not?), so I think if people were made aware of this problem, they would want to do their part in stopping it. Most of us will probably have a home of our own within the next ten years, so if you’re looking for a furry friend to keep you company, remember, adopt, don’t shop.

Sources:
https://m.secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=14801&14801.donation=form1&s_src=web_hpfs3_drtv_bottom_id93480558

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/exploring-the-pros-and-cons-of-designer-dogs.html