Adopt. Don’t shop!
It has been 16 years since “Last chance for animals” a Los Angeles based non-profitable organization started this champagne called “Adopt. Don’t Shop!” This is an international awareness campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of adopting animals rather than buying them from pet stores,and as the time passed this slogan was used a lot and in numerous times by a number of animal rights activists.Many of us might think that by now, there would’ve been a widespread increase in the knowledge of prospective pet owners, but sadly that’s not the case. I still hear many people around me talking about buying particular breeds of animals by paying hefty prices for them. According to some studies, more than 80 million cats and dogs are abandoned in India every year with only 2375 animal shelters around the country. The shelters simply don’t have enough space and funding to accommodate all the animals that are brought there. We are still not able to understand the good we can do by adopting these little adorable animals. Let me try to explain to you that, WHY YOU SHOULD ADOPT?
The amount of self-satisfaction that you will get by adopting a pet animal would far surpass that when you purchase one because the amount of unconditional love you will receive from a homeless or rescued dog in this case will be the same as that you would receive from a dog that you purchase. As a matter of fact even our very own Indian strays, apart from being absolute beauties, the rough life on streets has made them immune and healthy in numerous ways. They are naturally much stronger and tolerant to adverse conditions. Adoption is free of cost and you save the cost of purchasing a dog. The most important reason of them all is that you’re giving a dog, cat, horse, or another animal, a second chance at life. In their past life, some may have been abused, abandoned, or had to fend for themselves on the streets. By adopting, you are giving the dog a safe and loving home in which it can learn to be a happy and healthy dog again. Adopting an animal need doesn’t just help or support the health and wellbeing of the animal. Studies show that having a pet can help you live longer, whilst improving your overall happiness and health. Having a loyal companion also helps people with depression, stress, anxiety, and many other ailments. Furthermore, many companies and organizations have committed to the cause, pledging not to sell animals from commercial breeders in their stores and promoting adoption events instead. The “Adopt, Don’t Shop” movement isn’t merely a trending hashtag or a social media phenomenon—it’s a global drive against inhumane practices toward animals. It’s a collective effort to reduce the number of animals in shelters and promote responsible pet ownership.
Author : Khushi Dhital
