How you can save dog/cat live?   I’m sure you already read it all before, but i just saw a survey results and a letter from the ASPCA regarding pet adoption that may influence your decision when you’ll think about adopting your next pet.

The question asked was – Where did you acquire your dog?

894 dog owners answered

20% animal shelter – 358 dogs

21.4% rescue group – 383 dogs

35.4% breeder – 634 dogs

1.8% pet store – 33 dogs.

(You can find the complete results on dogtalkproject.com and take new surveys.)

The 634 dogs adopted from breeders -  are death sentence for 634 dogs that lived in shelters. Most Americans underestimate the numbers of pets that are euthanized every year.

Petsmart Charities conducted a study that found 76% of Americans acquire their pets in places other than shelters. One of the reasons  that people do not adopt is because they are unaware of the adoption process or of the unwanted pet problem, or because they  are looking for purebreds.

To demonstrate some facts

Approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and approximately 5-9 million are euthanized (60% of dogs and 70% of cats) resource – petfinder.com

In the city of Houston alone, it has been estimated that BARC  has to put to sleep 1,500-2,000 each month.

Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year.

Beware of online adoption (from the ASPCA)

As more and more Americans turn to the Web to find the pet of their dreams, scams have skyrocketed as criminals seek to take advantage of unsuspecting pet parents. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, hundreds of complaints are filed each year by victims who were conned when attempting to buy a dog online.

One potential pet parent, Diane, was hoping to add a Yorkshire Terrier puppy to her family when she spotted a classified ad in her local paper. “It was over my morning coffee that I saw the perfect ad for a Yorkie named Nancy,” says Diane, who lives near Cleveland, OH.  She sent an email to the address listed, and immediately received a response—Diane could have the puppy if she promised her a loving home and sent $500 to cover the shipping fees.

“I corresponded for an entire week with this man who claimed to be a missionary,” Diane explains. Diane sent the requested payment via Western Union, but once she sent the code for the money transfer, she never heard from the “pastor” again.

The ASPCA recommends never buying a dog you haven’t met in person and always check references. Also, keep in mind that adoption is still the best option, even if you have your heart set on a purebred dog. There are thousands of dogs waiting for good homes at local animal shelters, including purebreds!

For $50 to $350 you’ll have a  sweet, lovable pup or kitty, and forever grateful. Your pet be  spay/neutered, current on all vaccinations, and sometimes already microchipped.  Good place to start looking is on petfinder.com , look for shelters in your area or rescue for specific breeds.

Save life – adopt from a shelter.

Source- ASPCA, dogtalkproject.com, petfinder.com, MendocinoAnimalCare