Sources: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/top-reasons-adopt-pet

https://www.aspca.org/news/make-difference-pets-need-during-adopt-shelter-dog-month

October is the ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Adopting a dog helps homeless animals find a forever home. Every year approximately 670,000 dogs are euthanized in the United States.

Adopting a dog is a great way to combat puppy mills, and if you buy your pet from a pet store, online seller, or a flea market your dog is almost certainly coming from a puppy mill. Puppy mills keep dogs in deplorable conditions, and usually provide little or no veterinary care. Most dogs in puppy mills will never live life outside of a cage and are bred repeatedly.

If you adopt a dog, you are helping more than just one animal. By adopting a dog, you are making room in the shelter for another stray or surrendered dog to have the chance to find a forever home.

Adopting an adult dog also means you get to avoid the troublesome puppy years, and many shelter dogs are already trained with basic commands including being house broken, knowing how to sit, lay down, and stay. Many shelter dogs have already been socialized with children, other dogs, and cats as well. While some shelter dogs come from difficult backgrounds, many were surrendered due to no fault of their own but because of a human problem like moving, divorce, or deciding a grown dog is not as cute as a puppy.

Even if you are unable to adopt a dog, you can still help! Donating to your local humane society, or directly to the ASPCA is a great option to contribute to the cause.