I recently saw a post on belittling people who say 'Adopt Don't Shop' when referring to pets, namely dogs and cats. Basically it was saying that we wouldn't tell couples or people who want to be parents to adopt instead of conceiving their child, so why would we say it about pets?

First of all, by saying 'Adopt Don't Shop' we are not looking down upon people who have bought their dogs from breeders or from a pet store. We love all animals; however, several times a week, we take care of the animals that take up a residency with the shelter we volunteer at. We see the sadness in their eyes when they realize that today isn't the day they finally get to leave their kennel forever. We form attachments with these dogs and cats but nothing feels better than seeing them find a family who loves them with their whole heart and soul.

When we say 'Adopt Don't Shop' we do not mean that if you end up not finding a dog or cat you form a connection with you shouldn't get an animal at all. We will thank you for taking the time to get to know our animals and wish you luck on finding another one somewhere else, whether that be a breeder or a pet store.

We say 'Adopt Don't Shop' because we have witnessed a dog or cat pass away with nowhere to call home, no family to call theirs and it's heartbreaking. There are SO many different shelters to visit to try and find your furry friend, and most shelters are overpopulated with dogs and cats who were unwanted, found running at large or surrendered because the parents couldn't take care of them just looking for a loving home.

The volunteers at shelters spend many, many hours a week making sure these animals are taken care of, we know these dogs and cats like some people know their own children because they are just that to us - children. We love them as if they were ours and spend hours trying to find someone who will do the same.

This holiday season, consider adopting instead of shopping for an animal; you just might meet a lifelong friend and change an animal's life.