| Americans love to own pets and according to the | | | | Pet stores ask no questions, but some pets are |
| Humane Society almost 40% of American households | | | | offered at high prices. If you decide to buy from a |
| have a dog and 33% a cat. However, the number of | | | | breeder, you should first ask for recommendations |
| animals is much bigger and not all of them find a | | | | and do some extensive research. |
| home. In addition, some get lost or run away. Most | | | | Only a small percent of household pets are pampered |
| lost pets that end up in an animal shelter are not | | | | and their owners buy pet insurance. 15% of pets are |
| returned to their owners. There are almost 5,000 | | | | bought from breeders and just 2% from pet shops. |
| shelters in the U.S. and according to the American | | | | While pet owners that live in urban areas think of |
| Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, | | | | their animals as part of their families, owners who live |
| 60% of dogs and 70% of cats in the shelters are | | | | in rural areas are not as concerned about their pets. |
| euthanized. | | | | They do not take them to the vet as often as urban |
| Nevertheless, adopting a pet from a shelter is not | | | | owners do, as there are fewer veterinarians in rural |
| very easy. Although shelters are overcrowded, their | | | | areas. |
| first concern is the best future for all the animals that | | | | Some pets are taken from the shelters or from |
| are adopted. If you cannot prove that you have time | | | | neighbors or friends at low cost, and the money |
| for the dog or cat, that you have researched the | | | | spent on their maintenance is not much. However, |
| breed you want the animal to be and that everyone | | | | they are generally healthy. But unfortunately, too |
| in the house agrees to the adoption, you might not | | | | many pets are surrendered to shelters for various |
| be able to get through the adoption procedures. | | | | reasons. |
| Workers in shelters have years of experience and | | | | Most often animals are sent to shelters because |
| can be identify matches better than the general | | | | owners move house. The behavior of animals is |
| public. Sometimes they are too cautious and all the | | | | another reason, barking for example might become a |
| questionnaires you have to fill in and the interview | | | | problem for families that live in apartment complexes. |
| techniques seem unreasonable. But all these | | | | Also, there are people who come to realize that the |
| measures are their way of protecting the animals and | | | | maintenance cost is too high and decide to send the |
| making sure there will be less returns. There are | | | | animal to a shelter. |
| shelters where you can benefit from volunteer | | | | More than 50,000 puppies and kittens are born every |
| programs and if you enroll in such programs, the | | | | day in the U.S. This leaves four out of five animals |
| staff will get to know you better, so you can reapply | | | | that become neglected or homeless. |
| for adoption if you have been rejected in the past. | | | | |