AGoldPhoto Pet Photography originated from my work with the Humane Society of Broward County. I was at that shelter for two years, managing the website, social media and the photography program. Prior to working there, I knew nothing about animal welfare, adoption or that local Humane Societies are not affiliated with one another. Wait, they’re not? No, they are their own entity and are not supported by the government or the United States. They rely on private donations and grants to fund their operations.
Learning this made me realize that my peers didn’t know these things either. AGoldPhoto helps me teach about various issues by luring you in through unique photos of pets and teaching you something along the way. I adopted my dog Rigby from the Humane Society of Broward County and will always recommend pet adoption to anyone who is looking for a pet. I’ve put together a list of reasons to adopt a pet, so if you know someone who is looking, please share this with them.
“Shelters and rescue groups are full of animals that need a second chance at finding a new home. When you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, you are literally saving a life. What could be sweeter than that?!” – Sherry Silk, Chief Executive Officer, Humane Society of Tampa Bay
“Why adopt? Besides the unconditional love you get from a rescue, you’re giving a second chance at life to that animal. It’s a second chance it might not have received if not for you. And another thing that often gets overlooked is that when you adopt a rescue you’re actually saving two lives – the one you adopted and the one who now has a space at the local shelter until it too can find a new loving home. – Rich Anderson, Executive Director/CEO, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
5 Reasons to Adopt a Pet
1. Spay and Neuter
No animal leaves a shelter or rescue without being spayed or neutered. Controlling the pet population is a top priority and ensuring that pets do have homes. According to the ASPCA, 7.6 million animals enter animal shelters every year. I’m not sure how much vets charge for spay/neuter but a quick google search will turn up many low cost and even free programs.
2. Vaccinations
When you adopt, your pet is given age appropriate vaccinations, which is included in your adoption fee. Some adoptions fees are as low as $100.
3. Cost Savings
This post was inspired because I saw someone on my Facebook post a photo of a Frenchie puppy and the price tag was $5,000. I’m not a confrontational person, but I left a comment and all it said was “adopt.” The post had many comments about how cute the puppy was, but I can’t support purchasing a dog when there are millions of animals in shelters without homes.
Not only is adopting significantly cheaper, but spay/neuter, microchip and initial vaccines are all included.
4. Supporting a Cause
Humane Societies are not just a way a place to adopt a pet, they play a huge role in educating their community about animal welfare. A lot of programs are dedicated to youth and teaching them from an early age about the numerous topics affecting animals in their community. I work with many animal shelters and charities across Florida by hosting Photo Shoot Fundraisers. These events raise money through pet portraits and 50% of the proceeds are donated to the benefiting organization.
5. You’re giving a homeless pet a Second Chance
Sadly, there is a stigma about pets in a shelter or that the shelter is a sad place. Actually, the shelter is a happy place, it’s where they are given a second chance. Shelter pets are not broken and a lot are brought there because their owner could no longer care for them. Shelters also get to know the animal they care for and can provide valuable insights into their personality before you bring them home. Every homeless pet deserves a second chance.
There are are many more reasons to adopt a pet and everyone will have their own reasons. If you’re looking for a pet, please adopt and look for a shelter or rescue, even if you’re looking for a specific breed, they’ll most likely have them. Sites like PetFinder and Adopt-a-Pet have search alerts that will notify you when your desired breed becomes available.