According to Humane Canada, nearly 50,000 shelter dogs and cats found their forever homes last year. That's a lot of wagging tails and happy purrs! Have these altruistic new pet owners inspired you to bring a new bundle of fluff into your household? If so, you have a big decision to make: will you bring home a shelter pet or contact a breeder about purchasing a purebred puppy or kitten? As your Scarborough Vet clinic, we have some advice for potential pet owners who can't decide.
We've created this guide to help you understand the pros and cons of the rescue vs breeder debate. We'll include considerations for each option to help make this decision easier. Continue reading, and you'll be snuggling with your new best friend in no time!
PROS AND CONS OF ADOPTING A PET
Adopting a pet from a shelter is often more affordable than buying it from a breeder. Most pets already have some vetting and may even be spayed or neutered before you bring them home. At shelters, volunteers often know the animals well. They'll be able to tell you about each animal's current behaviours and preferences. With that said, your new pet may have had a life before the shelter. They may have unique quirks or habits from previous training and experiences. When you adopt a pet from a shelter, you're more likely to fall in love with a mixed-breed pet. Because of their added genetic diversity, they often have fewer health issues common in purebred animals. That said, predicting a young pet's adult temperament may be more challenging.
PROS AND CONS OF BUYING FROM A BREEDER
Sometimes a future pet owner has a particular breed in mind or specifically wants a puppy or kitten. It can be difficult to find rare or popular pet breeds or younger animals in shelters. If you do your research and your dream breed seems like a strong fit for your lifestyle, there is no reason not to acquire your new friend from a reputable pet breeder. Purebred pets are consistently more expensive than shelter pets, and initial vetting is rarely included and most only do the first vet visit. Just the first vaccines are usually included due to the early age of puppies and kittens going to their new homes. This is of course if we are talking about a reputable breeder. You must do your homework. If they are offering you to meet in a parking lot, then buyer beware. When you purchase a pet from a breeder, you can often predict aspects of their adult temperament and appearance. You'll also be able to meet the animal's parents and siblings. A reputable breeder will supply all the paperwork you need to verify your pet's lineage, including their breed history. Finally, acquiring a young animal from a breeder means you'll begin your relationship with a clean slate. Training a puppy or socializing a kitten can be hard work, but it's also incredibly rewarding.
PET ADOPTION ADVICE FROM YOUR SCARBOROUGH VET
Ultimately, choosing to adopt your new best friend from a breeder vs a shelter depends on the pet and your unique priorities. We only ask that you avoid purchasing pets from pet stores or puppy mills. While your Scarborough vet will always welcome everyone in our office, we are always sad to inform pet parent that the reason of their visit comes from the consequences of unethical breeding practices. After bringing your new buddy home, make your first vet appointment at Bellamy-Lawrence Animal Hospital in Scarborough, Ontario. Our full-service clinic offers comprehensive care, dental cleaning, microchipping, and more. Book your first appointment online today and start your new relationship off on the right paw.
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