Introduction

The ASPCA estimates that as many as 6 to 8 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in this country. If you’re looking for a new companion, why not adopt from your local shelter? You’ll save a life and get to know your furry friend on a deeper level than you would if you just picked one out at the pet store.

Call your local pound or shelter.

If you’re interested in volunteering your time and skills to an animal shelter, this is an excellent way to do it. There are so many things that need to be done at shelters, from cleaning up after volunteers who bring their dogs to playgroup by accident (true story) to organizing the shelves of donated food donations.

If you’d like something more hands-on than just volunteering at adoption events or helping with fundraising, consider becoming a dog walker for your local shelter! You can get matched up with a dog that needs exercise while you get exercise and bond with the furry friend.

Adopt a dog or cat from a shelter instead of buying one online or in a pet store.

Adopting a pet from a shelter is the best way to save a life and make sure you’re not supporting puppy mills.

For starters, you’ll be saving money. The ASPCA estimates that all-inclusive costs for owning a dog or cat can range between $1,000 and $3,000 each year—and that’s just the basics: food, toys and treats, veterinary care (which includes vaccinations) and other routine maintenance services like grooming. That doesn’t include emergency vet bills or unexpected expenses such as home remodeling due to your new pet’s destructive behavior! When adding up all of these factors, it becomes clear why it’s so important to consider adopting when considering buying a new pet instead of buying one online or in a pet store – this way you are saving money!

Another reason why adopting is better than buying is because there are many reasons for doing so; some people want companionship but don’t want to commit long-term by paying rent on an apartment with no roommates; others may need companionship but don’t have enough space at their house/apartment to accommodate two dogs/cats together at once – adoption offers an alternative solution where there would otherwise be none available!

Buy food and supplies for pets other people have abandoned.

It’s hard not to fall in love with the cute puppies and kitties in pet store windows. But if you want to save animals from being sold, then it’s best to keep your money in your wallet. Instead, buy food and supplies for pets other people have abandoned.

• Don’t buy pets for yourself or for others. This is one of the most common ways people support animal cruelty: They purchase an animal without considering whether they can afford it or are prepared to care for that particular animal long-term.
• Don’t buy supplies necessary for caring for a cat or dog (or any other pet) if you don’t already have one at home—and don’t give those items as gifts unless you know someone who actually has room in their life and home for another pet!

Foster an animal.

For those who can’t or don’t want to commit to the long-term responsibility of adopting a pet, fostering is an excellent alternative. Fosters provide temporary care and love for animals that need it most, allowing them to recover from illness or injury, gain weight and grow strong enough for adoption.

Fostering can also help you get your “dog fix” even if you don’t have the resources (or desire) for adopting a new friend yourself. If you’re looking for something more serious than fostering but aren’t ready to make an adoption commitment, consider volunteering at a local shelter on weekends or after work hours.

Donate money to the Humane Society or American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

You can also donate money to your local Humane Society or American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Both organizations have a long history of helping animals find new homes, and they often have thousands of animals waiting for adoption. Donating money directly to these organizations will help them continue their important work.

If you prefer donating directly to an organization that helps pets with medical problems, consider adopting from a no-kill shelter. Many shelters are overcrowded due to the high number of animals that need homes every year; however, there are some shelters that make sure every pet gets adopted into a loving home instead of euthanizing them because they don’t have enough space or resources.

Volunteer to walk pets at your local shelter.

• You can volunteer to walk dogs and play with cats at your local shelter.
• You can help clean cages and do administrative work.
• You can help raise funds for the shelter.
• You can foster pets in your home until they are adopted.

Consider adopting a senior pet.

While you might think that a young pet is more likely to get along with your children, consider adopting an older dog or cat. Seniors are often overlooked by families looking for pets, but they can be wonderful companions who can offer much-needed love and comfort to the family. In addition to being more mellow and relaxed than puppies or kittens, seniors may be a better fit for families with older children than younger pets.

Seniors are typically less expensive to care for than younger animals because they eat less food and don’t require as many toys or other accessories (such as doggy beds). Additionally, senior animals often have fewer health issues than puppies or kittens at the same age because their bones have matured and their immune systems have slowed down; this means that not only will they be less likely to chew up your furniture while you’re away from home but also that they’ll require fewer trips to the vet’s office!

Spay and neuter your pets.

Spaying and neutering your pets is important for a number of reasons. It reduces the number of unwanted pets, which can be put up for adoption or euthanized if no homes are found. Spaying or neutering also reduces the risk of certain diseases in both male and female dogs and cats, such as breast cancer in females, testicular cancer in males, uterine infections in females who have been spayed too young (too young for their bodies to develop properly), and prostate problems in males who have been neutered too early (before they reach sexual maturity).

Spaying or neutering will also make your pet more affectionate towards you and other people—they’ll be less aggressive because they won’t feel the need to mate with others. And finally: spaying and neutering prevents pregnancy! This is especially important if you’re planning on having children soon; while it’s possible for pets to get pregnant (and even give birth) at any age depending on their breed size/weight etc., there’s no sense taking any chances considering how easy it is these days thanks to modern medicine that can prevent this from happening even after an “accident” happens between two dogs who may not even realize what happened until it’s too late…

Keep your pet’s collar on, even if they’re inside most of the time.

If you have a dog or cat, it’s always a good idea to keep their collar on. Even if they spend most of their time indoors, there are still plenty of reasons to keep them wearing their collars. Here are just a few:

• Collars help keep your pet safe by keeping them from wandering too far away from home when they’re outside.
• If your pet gets lost, the collar will help you find them again.
• The tag engraved with the owner’s information can be used in case someone finds an injured or sick animal and needs to contact the owner.
• Collars prevent dogs from getting stolen by making them easy for thieves to recognize as not belonging to anyone nearby by visibly marking the animal as “owned.”
• Collars also prevent cats from getting hit by cars because drivers can see them more easily than an elusive stray cat might be able to cross underfoot unseen during any given day’s commute (or at night).

Don’t buy dogs and cats when you can save them instead!

Before you buy a dog or cat, here are some things to consider:

• Don’t buy from pet stores. The animals in these stores come from puppy mills, which are not humane places for dogs and cats to live out their lives. This means that the animals are bred for profit in horrible conditions, with little regard for their health or happiness. The puppies and kittens sold in pet stores are often sickly, underweight, and have been taken from their mothers before they’re old enough to be weaned—which can cause them lifelong health problems like heart disease or kidney failure.
• Don’t buy from breeders who aren’t registered with any kind of official organization (like the American Kennel Club). These breeders often place profits above animal welfare, breeding dogs and cats multiple times each year without concern for whether they’ll live long enough to become parents themselves (breeders sometimes try this by spaying female pets after their first heat cycle). They also don’t typically provide adequate medical care if something goes wrong during pregnancy or birth; puppies born too early may die because they weren’t cared for properly; newborns might not receive proper immunizations; etcetera ad nauseum ad infinitum until this sentence ends up being way longer than it needs to be so I’m going to stop now although really all I want is a cookie but honestly wouldn’t that just make me gain weight?

Conclusion

We hope this list has helped you realize just how easy it can be to save a dog or cat’s life. And as always, remember: Don’t buy dogs and cats when you can save them instead!