Putting a Puppy Under The Tree? Visit a Shelter
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I made an unavoidable trip to the mall yesterday and in a ploy to keep the kids quiet, I brought them into a pet shop. There in tiny cages we looked at dogs from puppy mills that were selling for about $1000 a piece. It was all rather depressing. If you are looking for a family pet for the holidays, stay away from the malls. Please check out the shelters first.In an attempt to appeal to your frugal side, do you know how much dog food $1000 can buy? By adopting a dog from a shelter, you will have enough left over for a crate (especially a gently used one), toys, a collar and leash, many months of food and even the first couple of vet visits.
On the other hand, maybe you will be swayed by the fact that pure bred puppies from pet stores are often bred without any consideration to genetic defects passed from one generation to another and made worse through inbreeding. Pound puppies are susceptible to health problems like any other dog but since they are the product of a wider gene pool, you'll be in good shape.
Finally, puppy mills are truly a waste of resources and inhumane. There are so many unwanted pets out there -- of all breeds -- that purchasing a pet from an irresponsible dog breeder is not necessary.
If you are serious about pet adoption, a good place to start is Petfinder. Not only will pets from your local shelter be listed but also area rescues that you may not be familiar with.
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