A lot of us LOVE dogs to the point where we need to be stopped before buying our third or fourth companion because we just do not have enough space in our house. When buying a puppy or a dog we have many options to consider, including the breed, age of the dog, along with where to buy the dog – pet store, a breeder, or adoption. These decisions can be overwhelming (why not just get them all right?), but it is important to decide if you want to adopt or buy a dog, after deciding on the breed and age you are interested in.
There are several benefits to adopting a dog. You can visit the Humane Society and look at the types of dogs that are available for adoption. Puppies can bond with you much earlier on, but some of the issues you could face include housetraining, chewing, and ruining furniture and other household items. However, you can also choose an older rescue dog. Older dogs have already grown and surpassed the chewing and ruining furniture stage, so this can also be a great option. However, the real question still remains if you should adopt or buy one from a breeder.
By buying a dog from a breeder you will likely be able to witness the environment the puppy was raised in, the mother, along with genetic testing to determine if the dog will encounter problems later on. This will allow you to control the environment and genetic component, however, there are problems with purebred dogs. This also comes with costs that can be expensive, including visits to the vet, along with training the puppy. But when you choose to go the adoption route, you are able to impact two lives. You are able to adopt a dog/puppy while freeing up space for another dog to be rescued. Most of the dogs will probably be neutered and have a microchip, and you will also be able to know about the dog’s environment – rescue groups usually know this information.
Both of these options are important to consider and are similar, however, you will receive a lot of gratitude from a shelter dog who is likely to be alone and have lesser genetic health problems (compared to a purebred). Lastly, you will be fighting against puppy mills. Puppy mills are breeding facilities that compromise the welfare of dogs – poor conditions, the dogs may be sick and kept in cages, and lack human companionship. These puppy mills include pet stores and by adopting a pet you can prevent these mills from getting funding. For more information check out this page.
Note: shelters do have adoption fees but these typically cover food, medicine, vaccinations, and other important things. If you are still indecisive make sure to visit or volunteer at your local animal shelter and spend some time with the puppies/dogs there. This could assist you in making a decision.