| Purchase | | | | puppy should not be easy or an impulse purchase. |
| When you purchase a dog you end up spending | | | | Adoption |
| hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and that's | | | | With dog adoption the difference is one of life or |
| before first shots, neutering, and food. Some people | | | | death. Did you know that over 3 million animals are |
| like to purchase dogs because they are devoted to | | | | euthanized in shelters every year in America? Not all |
| one breed. But when you buy a dog you have to | | | | of these animals are vicious or "bad", some of them |
| consider some things, such as where did this dog | | | | are simply paying the price for their owner's |
| come from? In the case of pet store puppies that | | | | carelessness or disregard. Sometimes people buy a |
| answer is often a puppy mill, where dogs live | | | | puppy, and when that puppy gets too big, decide |
| crowded together in cages and never get to romp | | | | they can't keep it anymore. Your local shelter is |
| on green grass or see the fresh air. There are some | | | | chock full of loving and wonderful dogs, big and small, |
| devoted hobby breeders who treat their dogs well | | | | mixed and pure bred. If you are fixed on a certain |
| though. If you are going to purchase a puppy, do so | | | | breed there are many breed specific rescues which |
| from one of these breeders who has a good | | | | often buy dogs out of puppy mills and put them into |
| reputation. A good breeder will allow you to see the | | | | good homes. |
| parents and will talk to you about genetic health | | | | While buying a dog can be a guilt free experience, it |
| problems which many purebred dogs have. He or she | | | | is nowhere near the good deed that adopting a dog |
| will also question you, because a good breeder will | | | | is. When you adopt a dog you give him a second |
| want their puppies to go to a good home. Buying a | | | | chance at life, and nothing could possibly feel better. |