Top 10 Reasons to Adopt from an Animal Shelter

1. Less expensive. Compare how much, say, a Boston Terrier is from a breeder to getting one from your local animal shelter. Depending on your locale, a breeder might charge you $350 to $500 for a pure bred puppy. From the shelter? You might get one for around $100. You can get other dogs and cats for the same or less.

2. They're already spade or neutered. Animals are in shelters because they're not wanted anymore. This is sad, but true. And, in effort to curb the pet population (which would create even more pets that may be unwanted), shelters usually spay or neuter the pets before they're adopted. This eliminates a major obstacle for those who don't want to risk a future responsibility.

3. They have their shots. Reputable pounds and shelters give the animals shots before putting them up for adoption. This reduces the chance of common diseases and helps put the potential new owners concerns regarding transmittable diseases at ease.

4. They're usually house trained. Usually, that is. While some dogs need a little more training after they've been adopted, new pet owners won't usually have too many accidents to clean up after. Most cats, on the other hand, are litter trained almost from the time of birth. Knowing the new family member is litter or house trained is a great relief to most owners - particularly those with light colored carpeting.

5. It will change your life. You will have responsibility and commitment. You'll also get a friend and a companion. You'll take more walks (and probably less bed space) if you adopt a dog. You'll wake up with feet on your face if you adopt a cat. You'll learn to think like your animal, too.

6. It will change the animal's life. Life in a cage isn't much fun (that's why we have jails). Animals enjoy having space to roam and play. They also crave love. Despite shelters' best efforts, they simply don't have the staff to provide all of the love, nor the space for them to enjoy.