Joe Biden just got a new puppy. It's a German Shepherd, it's adorable, and I'm sure his family will be happy with it.
But he got it from a breeder!
When so many millions of dogs and cats are sitting in shelters awaiting execution, getting a dog from a breeder is not an ethical act.
My partner and I have two pets. We have an adorable one-eyed Tonkinese cat named Cosette, and a goofy but loveable Jackabee named Wendy. I'll post pictures of them below.
We got both of our pets from rescue organizations. We didn't even think of going to a breeder. And both of our pets have been wonderful additions to our family.
Cosette had clearly been badly neglected by her former owners. I think the story was that she had been kept in a garage with a bunch of other cats and basically ignored. Her eye was lost through some kind of respiratory infection. When we got her home, she hid from us for a week. After some persistent coaxing, we gained her trust, and three years later, she's still the sweetest cat I've ever met. She has this "squeak" that she does to get attention - not quite a full meow, but a squeak. Sure, she'll do a full meow, but the squeak will melt your heart.
Wendy was dumped by her family after she got pregnant, and was found by an animal rescue group and fostered until she had her puppies. The puppies were weaned and adopted out, and we got Wendy. Almost a year later, we can't imagine life without this goofy, funny-looking dog whose head is too small for her body. We're pretty sure she's a Jackabee - a Jack Russell/Beagle mix, but that's just a guess. But it doesn't really matter - she's family now, and we love her.
Here's a quote from the Humane Society:
Many pets at your local shelter are waiting for new homes because they were obtained by someone with unrealistic expectations of the time, effort, and money required to sustain a lifelong relationship with their pet. National figures indicate that about half of the animals in shelters must be euthanized for lack of homes. Animals at your local shelter are eager to find a new home and are just waiting for someone like you.
(emphasis mine.)
If you want a new furry friend in your life, don't go to a breeder. There are a million dogs and cats waiting in shelters for someone just like you to come and make them a part of your family.
Petfinder is a great resource for finding your next best friend. You can search by type of pet, gender, age, and breed, and all the animals listed come from shelters or rescue groups.
As promised, here are pictures of my furry friends:
Wendy as a ladybug for Halloween:
Wendy at the dog park:
Cosette being cute:
