When people think about getting a pet, the first place they go is usually to a pet store. However, there are so many animals waiting for adoption at your nearest shelter, and oftentimes these animals need homes more than any other pet you’ll find in a store. If you’re considering adding a new furry friend to your family, please head to your nearest shelter – and here are just a few reasons why!

• You Save a Pet’s Life: When you adopt a pet, you are not only providing a loving home for an animal in need, but you are also helping to save its life. Every year, millions of pets are euthanized in shelters across the country due to overcrowding. By adopting a pet from a shelter, you are giving that animal a second chance at life. 
• You Make Room for More Animals: When you bring home a fur friend from the shelter, you are also making room for another homeless pet to be taken in. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 6-8 million animals entering shelters each year. And while many of these animals are successfully adopted, there are still millions more that end up being euthanized. 
• You Have Lots of Choices: Adopting a pet is a big decision, and there are lots of different factors to consider. The first step is to decide which type of animal you would like to adopt. Do you want a dog, a cat, or something else entirely? Do you want a puppy, or do you want to adopt a more senior animal who’s potty-trained? The great thing about heading to your local shelter is that you have tons of choices.
  • Shelters take in a wide variety of animals – from the very young to the most senior. They also take in animals of all sizes and breeds. You’re bound to find the pet you’re looking for when you check out your local animal shelter!
• You Support a Great Community Resource: Yes, pet adoption most definitely provides you with a lovable, furry friend who is bound to be a fantastic member of your family, but it also supports a great community organization. Animal shelters provide a vital service to the community by rescuing abandoned and homeless animals and finding them new homes. They also work to educate the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying and neutering. In addition, shelters often offer low-cost vaccinations and microchipping services, which help to keep pets healthy and reduce the number of strays in the community. By adopting a pet from a shelter, you are helping to make your community a better place for both humans and animals.
• Adopting From a Shelter is Cheaper: The cost of pet ownership can be prohibitive for some families, but adopting from a shelter is, more often than not, less expensive. The fees for adoption, spaying and neutering, and immunizations from your local shelter are usually affordable so that animals can find new homes. 
• You Encourage Others to Adopt as Well: Animal shelters are full of dogs and cats that are in need of a loving home. When you adopt from a shelter, you are not only giving a homeless pet a chance at a new life, but you are also encouraging others to do the same. When your friends or family ask, “Where did you get such a cute pet?” – proudly tell them, “From the local animal shelter!” And then encourage them to go check out what the shelter has to offer.

If it’s time to add a pet to your family, don’t head to the pet store or a breeder. Instead, head to your local shelter! You’ll be doing a world of good for pets in need!