It is always better to provide someone with a home than to create more demand for puppy-breeding businesses that operate in terrible conditions and disregard the animals afterward. If you have been thinking about getting a new pet for your home, this is your sign to adopt, not shop.
RJ and actor Anoushey Ashraf has some strong opinions about buying animals. “Adopt, don’t shop! Why?” she titled an Instagram post and attached a photo of a puppy holding a picture of her that read, “Have you seen this person?”.
“Because you’ll save a life, with all this culling it’s our moral duty to help,” she wrote. Adopting animals is one way to fight puppy mills, added Ashraf in her post. “If you buy a dog from a pet store, online or market, you are certainly getting it from a puppy mill which are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above all. Animals from mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions and are sick,” the RJ explained.
“Their moms are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship. After they’re no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold.”
Ashraf said that puppy mills continue to stay in business through deceptive tactics. “Their customers are unsuspecting consumers who shop in pet stores, over the internet, or through classified ads. They will continue to operate until people stop supporting them. By adopting a pet, you can be certain you aren’t giving them a dime.”
How adopting a pet is a mutually beneficial situation:
“Because all pets are good for your health as they have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally, and physically beneficial to their companions,” she explained. “When you adopt, you can also feel proud about helping an animal in need!”
Ashraf raised a great point about adopting being directly linked with how many more lives animal shelters can save. “Adoption helps more than just one animal. Overburdened shelters take in 100s of animals and by adopting an animal, you’re making room for others.
“Because you’ll change a homeless animal’s whole world: And get a new best friend out of the deal!” Much like a win-win situation, right?
Importance of neutering:
The RJ added that spaying/neutering increases your pet’s chances for longer, healthier life. “It eliminates uterine and ovarian cancer! Neutering your male pet prevents testicular tumors, prostate problems, perianal tumors, and hernias!”
“Neutered cats are less likely to roam, and so the threat of bites and diseases transmitted by fighting are reduced. Males are less aggressive and are not distracted by females in heat.”
“No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy and you will help alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem,” she explained. “Each year, millions of unwanted strays are killed. Many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets are sterilized the fewer will have to be killed,” Ashraf wrote.
Ashraf has spoken up for animal rights on multiple occasions. She previously encouraged people to be kinder to sacrificial animals.
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