After many rounds of discussions with your family, you’ve finally decided it’s time. You finally have the time, money and space to open your home to a little furry friend. But before you head to the nearest pet shop, have you considered adopting a dog instead?
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| SiDa (special needs dog) |
Here are five compelling reasons why you should adopt (not shop).
1. It’s cheaper
A purebred puppy at a pet shop can cost upwards of $800 or more.
Adopting a dog from HOPE Dog Rescue costs $350, which is about the cost of sterilising the dog. Not only does the adoption fee cover the cost of sterilisation, it also includes the microchip and vaccinations. In addition, the fee also includes blood tests to check liver and kidney functions, as well as check for heartworm and tick fever.
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| Adora *HDB Approved |
2. The dog is probably already trained
Apart from having all its health checks done, a pre-owned dog also means it’s more likely to already be toilet trained and obedience trained, and he / she may have been socialised in a home environment. That means you’re less likely to have to deal with accidents in the house, or struggle with things like teaching your dog how to walk with a leash.
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| Churros |
3. You won’t be supporting unethical breeders
Many of the dogs you see in pet shops come from breeders, many of which may have unethical methods of ensuring the dogs breed as often as possible. Not only is this cruel for the dogs, it also means that many purebred dogs have a higher incidence of genetic disease. You’re more likely to have a healthier and hardier mixed breed dog than a purebred one from a puppy mill.
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| Chester |
4. By adopting, you’re giving other dogs a chance to be saved
Animal welfare shelters are often operating at full capacity, and it can be hard to take in more dogs (as much as we really want to!). By opening your heart and home to a dog, you’re helping to free up space in the shelter and giving other dogs a chance to be saved.
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| Cody |
5. You’re giving the dog a second chance at life
This is probably the most important point of all. Many dogs in animal welfare shelters come with a terrible backstory – they were either neglected, abused or abandoned … or all of the above. However, their sad pasts do not diminish their capacity to love and be loved. When you take a dog in and shower it with affection, you can be assured your love will be returned in spades!
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| Matilda *HDB Approved |
Email hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg and tell us your requirements. We will try our best to match a dog for you.
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| Harper |
Written by: Vanessa