Are you looking for a furry friend, but you cannot convince your parents to get one? Unadopted pets all over the island are in need of a home, and you can become their lucky owner! Pets are a great addition to a home, bring families closer, and teach younger kids responsibility. 

Millions of pets enter shelters and rescues every year. Unfortunately, many animals are brought back to shelters because they do not adapt well to their new homes, or their owners are not able to get access to veterinary care. Although the number of pets who have been put to sleep has decreased drastically due to the growing number of people who choose to adopt pets, thousands of animals are still in shelters waiting to be adopted. Fun fact, cats are the most common animal to find at the shelter, but there can also be: dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, certain breeds of birds, and sometimes, even horses. 

Animal shelters are packed with animals that are waiting to be taken home. As previously stated, a majority of animals end up back in shelters due to the lack of pet-friendliness in a home. It is important to keep in mind that most of the animals have lived in homes already and may have unusual responses to a certain situation due to past experiences. On the bright side, pets might come into your home already trained and ready to live with other animals! 

Shelters and rescues often already have the significant amount of medical care needed for an animal covered by the time you adopt them. Free and low-cost adoptions are becoming more popular, therefore, take that into consideration next time you think about adopting an animal. 

Adopting pets used to be uncommon, but now it’s more popular. This is good because it means we are moving towards a more humane society. When more pets are adopted, shelters are able to focus on the roots of the animals in the shelter, such as reuniting them with their families if they are in a situation that needs so. Hopefully, decreasing the amount of animals in a shelter will make it easier to fund more pet-friendly shelters. 

Puppy mills are everywhere, and put their own profits before the well-being of a dog. If you get a dog from a pet store, online seller, or a flea market, there is a good chance that your new family member came from a puppy mill. The mothers of these puppies are constantly breeding until they are no longer useful. Once breeders believe the dog is no longer useful they get killed, sold at an auction, or abandoned. This is a terrible thing happening to dogs, and it needs to be stopped. By adopting a puppy, you are stopping puppy mills from staying in business. 

If you adopt a pet from a local shelter, you have long term access to support and help with a pet, especially if it is your first one. Many adoption organizations offer: free behavior support, free pet food if you’re in challenging situations, and some may even have a veterinary clinic to keep your pet healthy for the rest of their life, or a recommended clinic. Keep in mind, every organization is different, so make sure to ask for these amenities.

Animals give you unconditional love, and have also been shown to be psychologically, physically, and emotionally beneficial to their owners. It has also been shown that caring for an animal fulfills a sense of purpose. Also, when you adopt a pet you can be proud that you helped animals in need!!