There are a number of pet owners all around the world. Whether that be a fish, dog, cat, or horse, animals hold a big place in their owner’s hearts. Pets become members of the family, friends, and some of the most important parts of their parent’s day. 

Most individuals, at some point in their life, begin a search for their new furry friend. There are many ways to go about this, but one method that is commonly overlooked  is adoption. People breeze past the idea of adoption because they are in search of a “puppy that they can train, grow, and build an attachment to.” In reality, there are many advantages that are looked over when adopting through a shelter. 

“You could save a life. Three million dogs and cats are euthanized every year in the United States before they find homes. Talk about changing a pet’s entire world: From being on a list to die to being in a loving home, you can create the best moment in a pet’s life,” Oklahoma Humane Society wrote on their website. 

Even though not all shelters are kill shelters, many dogs and cats often die from stress, disease that can be contracted from the shelter, or sadly, old age. Some animals spend the majority of their life in shelters and that’s where they pass away.

“You’ll find a great pet. There’s a stigma that shelter pets aren’t as desirable, skilled, or as high-quality as a purchased pet. But this is simply not true. Purebred pets with great personalities fill our rescues and shelters every day. Many of these animals are in a shelter because their owner’s living situation changed, or they got out of their fence—not because the animal is bad,” Oklahoma Humane Society stated. 

Even going to visit an animal shelter to take the dogs on walks and give them a break out of their kennel will help them immensely. Acts like that will show anyone just how great a dog is.

“You’ll get a bargain. Anyone who owns a pet knows the expenses of vet care and responsible pet ownership. Many rescues like the Central Oklahoma Humane Society include spay or neuter surgeries, microchip, vaccines, and flea, tick, and heartworm preventative with their fees, making adoption much more affordable,” Oklahoma Humane Society wrote. 

Even though not every shelter offers every one of these expenses, they usually offer the most they can to help make being at the shelter as comfortable as possible for the animal. The fees to adopt vary per shelter, but in the end, your new furry friend will be worth it. 

“Puppies are cute, but they’re not for everyone. When you adopt, some pets, especially older ones, may already be potty or litter box trained and well-behaved. They may even already know how to walk on a leash, assuming they came from a home of responsible ownership. Though not always the case, it’s a possibility. Be on the lookout for some developed personalities too,” petmate.com wrote. 

Everybody has different likes and dislikes, but shelters have something for everyone. There’s so many different personalities that come from within a shelter that it can sometimes be hard to choose. 

 “Animal shelters are notoriously overcrowded. This lack of space can reduce the quality of care and exacerbate existing health issues. In most cases, shelter dogs and cats are euthanized for no reason other than there is no space for them. Adopting a dog or cat from an animal shelter helps give space to other homeless animals,” petmate.com stated. 

There is an unexplainable feeling that comes with adopting a pet from a shelter. Not only are you helping your new best friend, but you are helping another animal who needs a home or shelter. 

Adopting an animal from a shelter can feel so rewarding. Your furry companion will be sure to show you the love and care they have for you after saving them. It’s a bond like no other. 

If you’re considering adoption, check out the Erath County Humane Society (ECHS) located at 891 E Rd, Stephenville, TX. 

“The mission of the Erath County Humane Society is to care for unwanted and lost animals, reunite lot animals with their owners and find homes for adoptable pets. We work closely with our community to decrease pet overpopulation and to provide a safe place for animals as they await their permanent homes,” Erath County Humane Society stated on their website. 

They are a non-profit corporation that was founded on September 16, 1976. They are a low-kill facility, only euthanizing sick or extremely aggressive animals when absolutely necessary. 

“We do not impose time limits for healthy, non-aggressive animals to remain at the shelter and we do not euthanize animals to create space in the shelter,” Erath County Humane Society states. 

ECHS takes adoption of their animals very seriously. They want to make sure they go to a good home and are cared for correctly. 

“All dogs and cats adopted from the shelter must be spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption, depending on the age of the animal.  This is in accordance with state law.  There are other requirements coinciding with this, such as ordinances through the city of Stephenville, including vaccinations, tags, number of pets in the household, etc.  ECHS works with city and county law enforcement agencies to enforce these regulations. Our staff and volunteers also work with these agencies to bring charges against anyone who cruelly mistreats or improperly cares for animals in their custody,” Erath County Humane Society stated.

If adoption is not an option for you, you can always donate to help them and their mission. Just go to https://erathcountyhumanesociety.com/donate/.

For more information regarding why to adopt and not shop, go to 

https://erathcountyhumanesociety.com/animals/

https://okhumane.org/blog/five-reasons-adopt-not-shop/

https://www.petmate.com/top-8-reasons-to-adopt-not-shop/article/a90113