People often save up before getting a pet and look for a cheaper option that won’t empty their wallet. Budget-conscious people usually think about one breed or another, but legally acquiring it is too expensive for them. Of course, it’s always nice when a beautiful, young, and still clumsy little animal runs around the house. Such people often don’t even think about the dogs and cats living in shelters, and when asked why they didn’t take an animal from a shelter, the question is met with worn-out excuses about age, breed, temperament, and diseases. So, in an effort to slightly change your perspective on animals living in shelters, we want to tell you why a shelter animal is better than a ‘purebred’ bought without documents and for a lower price.
First of all, it’s illegal! Legal breeding of purebred pets is very expensive and requires a lot of work. Purebred animal breeders often invest a lot of money and effort into cultivating the animal’s breed and its care. A pedigreed dog is very expensive because its care is expensive, and as everyone knows, you have to pay for quality. Animals sold without papers are an illegal business in which only the profiteering illegal breeder wins. Very often, people who buy a ‘purebred’ animal without documents end up disappointed because the pet grew too big or too small, the coat is too short or too long, the nose is too flat or too long, not to mention an unsuitable temperament. Anything can happen, and who’s to blame for it? Only the person who acquired the pet illegally. As long as there is demand for such pets, there will be supply. We are in no way against legal breeding operations, because purebred animals are needed—breeds must be maintained—but illegal and cheap breeders not only fail to do this, but also destroy breeds because all sorts of breed deviations occur. So we want to ask you—do you want to risk buying a pig in a poke just because of your desire to have a purebred pet that may or may not resemble a true breed representative? If you’re not planning to continue a true breed or at least maintain it in the way that is actually required, head to a shelter! You won’t believe it, but hundreds live there, and thousands across Lithuania, so you’ll definitely find exactly what you’re looking for, and you’ll do a good deed because you’ll save at least one animal’s soul.
Another reason why it’s better to choose an animal from a shelter is that they are usually adults, so they are well-behaved and problems with them are rare. Of course, we don’t deny that there are wild ones too, but you can always learn that animal’s backstory. Shelter volunteers will definitely not lie to you, because one of their main goals is to give the animal into loving hands and ensure that it won’t be returned. Well, if you want a young one, shelters definitely have them all the time. Volunteers can often even predict roughly how big the puppy will grow, what size it will be, and what breed it will resemble.
Well, you’re probably thinking now, what about diseases? Every animal that ends up in a shelter is usually examined by specialists. If the animal is sick—they treat it; if unvaccinated—they vaccinate it. To stop reproduction—females are spayed and males are neutered. The last thing shelters need is for animals to start breeding among themselves, so all animals are ready to go home healthy and cared for.
These days, animal shelters are growing uncontrollably. They become too crowded, there’s a shortage of food, bedding, volunteers, and their attention for each stray. Volunteers simply physically can’t manage to walk all the dogs, brush all the cats, let alone play with them. Every pet living in a shelter dreams of one owner, a warm home, and full days—in short, every animal needs a person. And there are thousands of such unfortunate ones in shelters. The best thing you’ll get from adopting an animal from a shelter is gratitude, loyalty, and love. Such animals are often much more affectionate, bond more closely with people, and become the very best friend, because you are their rescuer, you are the one who gave them a new and better life. Animals never forget that. So before you buy, think carefully whether you really need that illegally bred animal when at a shelter you can find a furry companion full of love and gratitude—maybe not perfect, but loyal.