Adopt, Don't Shop
Here are a few reasons to encourage you to adopt rather than purchase your new pet.
Buying a pet from a breeder or pet store can range up to and over $1,000 easily. The SPCA’s adoption fees range from $20 to $160, and we often reduce those fees during adoption specials throughout the year. Even better, the animal you get from the SPCA has already been started on vaccines, started on dewormer and flea/tick medication, and is spayed or neutered.
- Animals adopted from the SPCA receive top notch medical care prior to adoption. We have a full-time veterinarian on site to assist in caring for our animals to the fullest extent.
- All animals adopted from the SPCA have been dewormed, received age-appropriate basic vaccinations, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and you receive a free pet ID tag.
- For felines, they have all been tested for Feline AIDS, Feline Leukemia, and heartworms. We do recommend re-testing every 6 months to a year, especially for outside felines.
- Canines, if 6 months or older, have been tested for heartworms and are started on a monthly preventative up to the date of the final adoption.
- If the animal is old enough at the date of the final adoption, they will received a one-year rabies vaccine.
- A pet purchased from a pet store comes with an unknown background and is a complete unknown. Once you leave the store, you will not have any resources beyond your own knowledge and research. The SPCA will provide you with tools and information to assist in the transition of your new pet into your home.
- Adopting a pet saves not just one life, but two: the animal you adopt and the animal who is able to enter the shelter. When you buy a pet, you have removed an opportunity for a homeless animal to find a home. In addition, purchasing a pet often supports a system that does not care for the welfare of an animal. Puppy and kitten mills are the most common source of animals in pet stores. The goal of these mills is to produce as many puppies and kittens as possible to make a profit. The animals coming from these mills can have health issues or behavioral issues like poor socialization to lack of interactions with people and inbreeding.
- Adopting gives you the opportunity choose the age you want to start with. Puppies need constant care and supervision, whereas older animals may be more settled with their true personality on display.
- Adopted animals give just as much love, maybe more, than a purchased pet!