Sometimes, our pets are more than just pets; pets can be our pal, our best friend, and our source of comfort. Scientists agreed that animals have the emotional capability to feel love and empathy. For example, dogs can comfort humans in the aftermath of trauma. Pet animals such as dogs and cats are domesticated animals in which they have been bred and adapted over generations to live alongside humans. But recently, there's a growing concern regarding animal rights, not only wildlife animals but also pet animals. Animal rights are deeply related to animal welfare and wellbeing. The debate started when people started to question, is it ethical to buy your pet from a breeder?
Buying from breeders or puppy mills was deemed unethical because animals are forced to breed for profit reasons, and some dog lovers have preferences about a particular breed of dog. Therefore, for this purpose, some breeders could earn up to hundreds of millions of rupiahs just from providing a rare breed of dog for their clients. By prioritizing profit, the welfare of these animals comes in second, and they typically do not receive proper veterinary care. In this case, puppies and cats are basically treated as a commodity.
In response to this issue, more people are finally aware and choose to opt for a more ethical alternative; to adopt from an animal shelter or relatives or friends. "Adopt, Don't Shop!" has become a global campaign encouraging people to adopt rescue pets instead of buying them from puppy mills. Some say that by adopting, you will be contributing to the fight against animal cruelty. Overpopulation of cats and dogs has become a major yet invisible issue, along with animal abuse. Animal adoption may provide a way out; for us to treat animals more ethically and for rescued animals to gain a second chance to be loved and taken care of.
According to Worldwide Veterinary Service, there are plenty of reasons why you should adopt a pet. Here are some of them:
1. You are saving a life
Most animals in shelters are rescued from improper living conditions; some of them have been abused, abandoned, or had to fend for themselves on the streets. By adopting, you are giving them a second chance at life.
2. You won't be supporting backyard breeders
Many dogs are forced to breed as often as possible and kept under cruel conditions due to irresponsible breeding by backyard breeders. By adopting them instead, you are avoiding these organizations.
3. Less expensive than buying
Although you will still have to pay some money for the adoption fees, the shelter won't take it for any profitable purposes. The fees applied may include the sterilization process and care treatment managed by the pet shelter for the rescued animal.
4. You support a valuable community and charitable institution
By choosing to adopt from a shelter, you are giving your support to a valuable community that believes in animal welfare.
5. You help prevent overpopulation
As overpopulation becomes an issue, adopting can be a solution to decrease the numbers of stray cats and dogs that may have lived in poor conditions.
Needless to say, the reasons above not only have provided strong justification to adopt a pet but also reminded us of the meaning and impacts of such action. The principle of adoption is different from the one of buying, and therefore choosing to adopt an animal rather than buying them holds a big difference. Unfortunately, these days, a lot of people are using the word "adopt" without considering its meaning. On Twitter, users are selling their pre-loved products with the caption of "open for adopting". Not only that, but the recently popular spirit dolls are also "open for adoption". The shifted meaning of "adoption" may give a false impression between what it means to adopt and what it means to buy. As opposed to buying, adoption should not be a profitable transaction. It holds significance in the way in which we perceive pet animals, whether as living creatures that have rights or as a commodity.
(ANL/MEL)