Why is that many people buy pets from pet shops rather than adopting stray animals?

Question

I say that instead of buying a dog or a cat or any other pet from shops,we can adopt stray animals.By doing this we could both control the number of stray animals as well as give a life to them.I suggest that we ourselves can start an organisation to prevent animal abuse and for adoptation of stray animals.

Answer 1

I 100% agree.....and most don't realize what they are buying at the pet store to begin with. Most animals there are mistreated, have disease, other hidden problems, have mental issues, etc due to cross breeding and how they are raised in masses in tight cages.

And ex gf of 6 yrs worked in pet stores and for the zoo for while. She told me horror stories of how these animals were raised, sold and handled for pet stores. She preached to all of us to never buy any from a pet store, that even though you might think you are saving an animal, those there are better off being put down due to their genetic abnormalities. Being this was her job and how she made money, I don't see why she would go against it unless it was true.

I myself have always saved strays or gotten from the pound. These animals realize they are saved and given a second chance and love you more than one bought.

Answer 2

Not all adoptations are easy or fast. I worked at my hometown's local Animal Shelter for four years. We had a policy where the animals would be updated on shots and either spayed/neutered before being placed up for adoptation (this is after the initial quarantine period, agressive-behavior monitoring and heavily supervised play time with other animals (of the same species) to see how they interacted with each other). The adoptations would cost from 45-65 (depending on if you wanted a cat or dog - dog being more expensive).

The thing that could really hamper someone's need for getting a pet was the trial run. We required all hopeful adpotees to go through a trial run with the animal they wanted to adpot. It would usually be a week or so. The people would take home the animal to see if it matched their lifestyles, personalities and on occasion their other pets. Many of our animals were returned to us because they did not pass their trail run with their "almost" owners.

To be honest most of the strays we got in were not in shape to be adpoted by another family. They were too aggressive, most of them probably being abused pups or cats before running away or being dumped off. Some of them were too sick, and despite us trying everything to make them better they would not. Strays were not always the best animals. I'm not saying that a few strays didn't make it into our mix - some of our best sweethearts were stray cats, stray dogs seemed to be the problem.

ASPCA is an organization that already exists that is for the prevention of animal abuse and the adpotation of animals (stray and non-stray). Here is their homepage: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer

If you'd like to adpot a stray (or non-stray: as in meaning that it was either dropped off because their owners no longer wanted it or could care for it, rescued or abused from their current owner and was able to pass all the pre-adpotation tests) please check out your local Animal Shelter. Depending on the shelter (or Humane Society as we were called and some others are called also) you may need to stick around for awhile. Sometimes there are waiting lists.

If there are trial runs please do not blow it off - it is most important to the animals that they fit comfortably in their new home. It may cause a little inconvience for you but it is the best for your possible pet.

Answer 3

I agree and find that adopting a stray is much more rewarding than buying a pet from a store or breeder.
Unfortunately when you buy from a breeder you could end up with a animal that dies quickly because of FIP or other genetic illnesses. So you are spending alot of money for nothing but emotional stress and heartache.
You could spend thousands of dollars trying to save their life and in the end they will die anyway with all the suffering included.
When you adopt you are saving a life that would be killed just because there is not enough homes.
It is so sad!

Answer 4

What most people don't realize is that pet shop companion animals, especially puppies, come from puppy mills!

Puppy mills are cruel and breed but one thing: MISERY and GREED.

Stores that sell animals from the mills profit from this misery and there is absolutely NO guarantee that a pet shop puppy is a healthy puppy. For more information on puppy mills please visit: http://stoppuppymills.org/ OR http://www.nppmwatch.com OR http://nopuppymills.com OR http://prisonersofgreed.org OR http://www.njcapsa.org

It is a misconception that all animals in shelters are strays! Many are there because an owner died, moved, was allergic and the list goes on and on. The shelters and rescues are filled with wonderful animals who are in need of a forever home.

Each year the United States euthanizes millions of companion animals - through no fault of their own - and primarily due to homelessness.

Give HOPE to the mill dogs - BOYCOTT STORES THAT SELL PUPPIES!!

Answer 5

I'd rather have a virtual pet. I have a virtual pet on my Nintendo, called Nintendogs. (In August I will buy NintenCats) That way I don't have to clean up after it. Tee-Hee BUT if I had a choice to buy or adopt I'd adopt because there are pets that need homes in the shelters all the time.

Answer 6

I adopted all of my three dogs that I have and I think everyone should adopt the dogs. If you buy from pet stores you are on encouraging more puppymills and more puppies. We have enough homeless dogs. We really dont need anymore right now. Millions of dogs get put down each year because there is not enough room in shelters. Adopt a homeless pet. You will not be sorry.
Adopt A Homeless Pet
http://www.petfinder.com

That is where I found my dogs. Its wonderful that they do this.

Thats my opinion on dogs that are homeless and pet stores.

Answer 7

that a good argument but person how buy pets from pet shop may have been trying to avoid adopting stray animals becuz of the behaviors that may come with stray animals eg hard to control and also if you adopt stray animals and don't buy pets then the pet shop pet will not have any home

Answer 8

I agree with you. Our oldest cat came from a female cat we had who gave birth to a liter, the second oldest we picked him up from a few kids outside wal-mart one day and the last one came from my husband's aunts and uncles house but we'd adopt more if we had the money. I just agree with you. I think people need to take in strays and adopt rather then buying pets from pet stores.

Answer 9

its a safer choice. The stray animals may be not be vaccincated, also they may be the carriers of diseases and other harmful bacteria and other viruses. which may prove fatal to infants if any in the house and also other members. The pets from the pet shop on the other hand are vaccinated hence are perfectly safe and r well trained not like the stray animals that r wild in nature.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, people view getting a pet like buying a car. They want new, shiney things with a high pricetag for bragging rights. People need to understand that getting a pet is alot like having a child. There is alot of responsibilty and commitment involved. Also, people need to realize that we are not perfect so we should not expect our pets to be. However most people do and that is the harsh reality.