Most Americans will buy their next pet from a shelter..a thumbs up for the American public

[Peacetrain]

It just gives you hope that people really do pay attention and act and do the right thing in the end.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100512/ap_on_re_us/us_fea_pets_ap_poll_adoptions


LOS ANGELES – Remember that old song, "How much is that doggie in the window?" For most Americans, it seems it's no sale.

More than half of people in an Associated Press-Petside.com poll said they would get their next dog or cat from a shelter, nearly seven times the number who said they would buy their next pet from a store.

And more than four in 10 said they thought store pets could have hidden medical or psychological problems. That's significantly more than those who expressed the same concerns about pets from animal shelters or breeders.

[liberal N proud]

1. All of our dogs have been from a shelter

All have been great pets/companions. All have been faithful loving animals.

[jules1962]

2. Shelter or rescue only.

To many animals out there waiting on good homes. I will never purchase from a breeder. I know that there are responsible breeders out there, I just prefer to adopt or rescue. To many breeders do it for the money and not for making the breed healthier. AKC papers? Not worth the paper they are written on a lot of times. To easy to doctor and lie on them. Mutts rule.

[liberal N proud]

4. We had one purebred Cocker Spaniel.

She had been abused by a man, it took a long time before she trusted me, but we made life pretty good for her.

[NotThisTime]

7. Be careful of rescues, we had to pay big $$ and then 400.00 in vet bills for things that should have

been taken care of, and would have if we'd gone through the SPCA.... bad on us, we'll never do it again.

[flpab]

3. pure breds from good breeders

Don't knock people that do have pure breds though. I have had Boxers for 25 years, show dogs and non show dogs. The two I have now I got one as a pup and one that I got at three. He needed more than his owner could give him and I have owned some that were given back to the breeder because people can't adapt to the breed. People do abuse pure breds also... Rescue dogs are plenty in the breed clubs. Boxer rescue has hundreds of animals that need homes. I just know breeders that will place returned pups. I do a lot with Boxer rescue but it is my right to buy from a breeder also. NorCal Boxer rescue almost had to shut down last month but the the Boxer Club people joined together and helped and they are still opened. A lot of Clubs do much to help, they work with the rescue groups and help place animals in homes. It is the backyard breeders that tick me off and the amish puppy mills.

[Peacetrain]

6. I don't thing anyone is knocking reputable breeders by any means.. but puppy mills

that feed a lot of pet stores are a nightmare..

[lunatica]

5. I think the humane society show on Animal Planet has done a great service

and I think it has a lot to do with people picking shelter pets.

I have two dogs. A Toy Poodle with papers from a breeder because it's the only way to get them. Poodles are probably the hardiest breeds on record. They have no inbred health problems and they live longer than most other dogs and because they don't shed in the conventional way people who have allergies can have them. My mother had severe allergies so we bought the Toy Poodle. It's one of the best investments we ever made. The other best investment was a rescue of a mixed breed short hair middle sized dog. She is a most elegant athletic dog with the gentlest and most loving disposition I've ever seen in a dog. I have the best of both worlds.

[BonnieJW]

8. It used to be risky

to get pets from shelters since they gave away any animal to anyone who wanted it. Now shelters evaluate each animal for its "adoptability" before placing it. They also interview all interested parties to find out if they will be good owners. I would not hesitate to adopt a shelter dog today.

[Mari333]

9. all my babies come from the shelter!

2 weeks ago I also adopted a little terrier from the pound. I think this is all I can handle now.




and 2 birds and a lot of fish.

[proudohioan]

10. All of our cats have been from a shelter/pound.

And we've never had a bad one in the bunch.

[Echo In Light]

11. K/R

[Donnachaidh]

12. I do go into the local Petland, to see if the animals are sickly

So I can report them.

But my furbabies are either throways, feral adoptions or pound adoptions. And future ones will be too.

[ChoralScholar]

13. My two doggies -

Ginger - found walking down US Highway 64 at about 8-9 weeks old. That was ten years ago.

Julie - bought for 10 dollars from some guy trying to get rid of an unwanted litter. That was eight years ago.

[OnionPatch]

14. We bought our first dog.

A German Shepherd, and she's plagued with health problems. No more purebreds for me. Yes, I know some breeders are conscientious and produce healthy pups but those are top dollar. Why empty the bank account for a pet when there are so many healthy pets in shelters that desperately need homes? The last four pets we've obtained have been from the shelter and every one of them is wonderful.

[liberal_at_heart]

15. After my daughter volunteered at the local shelter it opened my eyes

We don't want anymore pets right now but I will definitely be giving food on a more regular basis and my daughter wants to foster a cat from the shelter. Animal shelters often are full of animals and short on resources, so anyone willing to adopt, volunteer or just donate can be a big help.