ADOPT, DO NOT BUY! #SocialSunday

|By- Prateek Balana|

“They may not have words to let you know,

But like you, they suffer, love and grow.”

All living beings feel, touch, love, live and have equal rights to live their lives with dignity. Although stray dogs cannot communicate with humans, their emotions can still trigger human minds.

India has more than 30 million stray dogs out of which few get home and most of them end up in a shelter or die. As being a vet student I have been frequently asked by friends and family as to where they could buy a dog from. My first question to them is “Why do you want to buy one? Why can’t you just adopt a stray or rescued animal?”And more often or not their instant reaction is “they are so unhygienic how we can keep them in our home? And they are not appealing, good looking, etc And sometimes even worse by saying “GALI KA KUTTA KON PALTA HAI ? and they end up buying from the breeder and don’t you think by buying one we are promoting commercial dog breeding? Pet stores acquire their most profitable animals from Puppy and Kitten Mills, whose principal goal is making as much money as possible. These mills are truly horrendous places that force animals to breed, maintain horrible living conditions, and abuse animals with many awful practices, including tail-docking and ear-cropping. Thousands of animals also die before they even reach the pet store because of the dreadful methods of transportation.

Image Source: Wix Media

When dogs are purchased from pet stores, it directly funds these puppy and kitten mills. In an attempt to buy a good looking pet we are forgetting the real reason to keep a companion .that we need it for ourselves, not to showoff others and not to show off your status or power or wealth. But don’t you think you will be more honoured and proud if you give homeless a home, unloved your love and most importantly when you choose to adopt, you’re doing a great thing. Many dogs end up in shelters or get rescued from harsh conditions. But this doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a second chance. Dogs are not objects that you buy for your entertainment, they are friends you make. Money can buy a dog but not the wag of its tail. Adopt a stray that actually needs shelter and it would love you like no one else in the world.

10 Benefits of adopting a stray or rescued dog-

1. You are saving a life

2. You are saving money

3. You’ll change a homeless animal's whole world.

4. They are well socialized.

5. They are super friendly.

6. You will raise awareness about the adoption of animals and how well it works out!

7. You are helping to stop commercial breeding.

8. Stray/Rescued Dogs would have already gotten their vaccinations and neutering done

9. Stray/Rescued Dogs are already people and house trained.

10. Stray/Rescued Dogs have a better immune system so they have a less chance to catch the disease.

Image Source: Wix Media

Please take the time to meet the scared ones, the shy ones, the ones that don’t stick out to you, the ones with the boring colours or missing limbs, the older ones and the frail ones. They won’t be able to say but they need your help.