Why Adopt?

If you are thinking about getting a companion animal of your own like Cooper or Shadow, adopting or rescuing a shelter animal offers a number of advantages (thanks to Best Friends Animal Society for this information).

the cost will be less than that of a purebred animal from either a breeder or a pet store

mixed breed dogs may be more resilient than purebred dogs

if you are interested in particular breeds, there are rescue groups dedicated to those breeds

dogs (and cats) left in shelters are killed in astonishing numbers each year, because no one has claimed them or adopted them. Read more about this here.

you can be part of the solution in reducing the unnecessary deaths rather than contributing to the problem of puppy mills

how can you resist a face like this?

For more information about animal adoption, check out these two pamphlets from Best Friends Animal Society (www.bestfriends.org):

Why Adopt Rather than Buy? (requires Adobe Reader)

The Adoption Option (requires Adobe Reader)

Adopt Now!

If you are ready to start looking for your new companion, you can check out shelters and rescue groups in your local area. A good place to start is the Pet Personals section of The Shelter Pet Project, which is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, the Ad Council, and Maddie's Fund. This interactive site will ask you basic quesitons about your lifestyle, where you live, and what you are looking for. It will then provide you with a list of animals currently available from shelters in your area.

Pet Personals on The Shelter Pet Project

Rescue Joy: Tales of Cooper and Shadow

Rescue Joy Links

Why Adopt?

Adopt Now!