Adopted vs. Bought Animals

Post Reply New Topic

What are all your views on adoption versus buying an animal? I have adopted three cats in my lifetime so far, a tremendously rewarding experience. However I feel that buying an animal is wrong,because than you feel you own it and that it owes you something in return.I have seen so much mistreatment of animals, and I don't think an animal is something you can own.It is their own entity and soul,as well as body.
What do you think about that?

I prefer to adopt animals rather than buy them. Buying animals just encourages people to breed them, when there is no need for it due to overpopulation. At least where I live, the animal shelter is overpopulated with animals who need a new home and who undergo euthanasia when no one adopts them.

Plus, adopted animals make good companions because they are thankful for being rescued, so they become more closely attached to you. At least that's what my experience when I adopted a cat was like.

most of my animals were abandoned prior to me getting them
only the cat was effected by it, though she trusts us
and we love her

It's great to hear your answers, and that you support adoption! It is a cause that is very dear to my heart. I only have two cats now, I cannot handle a dog..I just feel there is so much you want to do for a dog,not only to feed and train it properly and love it, take it on many long walks each day,but I have seen how much a dog needs social interaction with other dogs,which I think is missing on a A LOT of "owners." Dogs are social creatures...well,in short, I am not able to give all I can to a dog at this time in my life right now.Someday I hope to live in the country and have enough acres to have lots of happy adopted creatures existing in love and happiness with me.

I think that the cash you spend to buy an animal is like ransom money. Either way, the animal should be loved and actually respected for being a living creature. We can't consider ourselves superior until we can do that.

I think that either way is good, though I'd like to adopt my next dog if I become wealthy or win a lottery, because I'd be able to afford a house with a yard. :O)

I don't think buying animals is wrong, but I would be glad if people would consider adoption first. I took in 4 abandoned kittens in the past.

Adoption would be my first choice, as I would want an ordinary, mixed breed animal, not something fancy that would call attention to itself --and me. Also, adoption is the cheaper alternative.

My concern with adopting through a shelter, however, is the microchip, which strikes me as creepy and Big Brotherish. I have no difficulty with the vet knowing I own the animal, but I am concerned that an unknown person with a microchip reader could trace the animal back to me, resulting in loss of privacy and unanticipated liability. That's a lot of risk to ask people to take on when all you really want is for them to give an animal a home.

I've only ever adopter adopted or taken in stray/abandoned kittens. I've bought hamsters and fish from pet stores, though, but you don't exactly see abandoned hamsters roaming the streets.

I prefer to adopt animals rather than buy them. Buying animals just encourages people to breed them, when there is no need for it due to overpopulation. At least where I live, the animal shelter is overpopulated with animals who need a new home and who undergo euthanasia when no one adopts them.

When it comes to cats, I don't care either way. As far as dogs go, I have had one backyard-bred one, one adopted (that was likely a milled "designer breed" mutt), and one well-bred dog. The dog we spent the time and research to find through a quality breeder has been our best dog-- by far. That is to say, she has been the easiest to train, has had the best health, and the nicest temperment. I will personally never "adopt" another dog again. [If the only options were milled puppies or adopted ones, I'd go the adoption route, but I have a breeder I much prefer.]

We expect things from our animals, no matter how much we paid for them (our adopted cat and dog both cost money, not just the "purchased" animals). The cat's job is to use the litter box and lie around the house being loved on, but the dogs have specific tasks. Our older dog is being trained to assist our child and the younger one will be trained as a constant companion, but is currently still working on her manners. They expect things from us too, not just a warm bed and food, but love, attention, work, and leadership. It's a symbiotic relationship. I think it's really sad when people get dogs with good intentions, only to leave them to spoil away on the couch.

I've bought and adopted and never felt I owned the animals either way. I have a heart for mix breed animals who need homes and an admiration for the qualities that different pure breeds have to offer. Also, not all breeders mistreat their animals and there are those who are very particular about who buys them.

Over population is largely caused by individual owners not spaying and neutering - they think it's ok to breed their domestic pets because they happen to have a female of a breed and someone else a male and they see a chance to make money. Not only are they potentially breeding faults in the breeds, but they are likely not to have the supportive network that can provide proper homing and care for the babies like a reputable breeder does.

Good breeders aren't the cause of over population - breeding is extremely expensive and they have to be careful not to exceed demand or they'll be left with a deficit.

It's so much better to adopt animals. Animals in shelter, desperately need homes & often get over looked because people would much rather buy animals. Sometimes animals in shelters need to get put down because they can't find a home. It's very sad.
Also, it's not good to buy puppies from a pet store. A lot of those puppies come from puppy mills & often times have a lot of medical issues. Puppy mills are awful places & where the puppies & especially the dogs that give birth to the puppies are horribly mistreated. By buying puppies from pet stores you're helping to support puppy mills. If you're going to buy a puppy buy one from a licensed breeder who treats their dogs with love & kindness. However, I still prefer mixed breed dogs to full bred dogs. Mix breed dogs are healthier & often times over looked because they're not popular. But I love them, they're awesome!

P.S. Sorry for the long winded rant, dogs happen to be an obsession of mine.

The terms that we sometimes use about animals kind of disturbs me. I actively dislike the term "owning" when referring to an animal. It seems too much like slavery. Sometimes people refer to the human as the "master" of an animal. Again, it sounds a bit like the slave / master concept.

I might happily spend money to rescue an animal from the pound or wherever, but I will never "own" the animal. Instead, it will hopefully be a friendship of a sort.

I think there are probably some very good, ethical breeders of animals, but even there, one has to take a serious look at what is going on. Unfortunately the results of some breeds cause serious health problems for the animals.

my horse was bred by my family, but we only bred a couple, and for the purpose of keeping them

both my dogs are "adopted" form rescues, but there's an adoption fee to ensure they have enough funding to continue rescuing (i.e. covers desexing, vaccinations, microchipping etc)

fantastic little doggies!

my cat (doesnt live with me, he lives on my aunt's farm) was from a petshop, he was given to me

and he's nuts

i love him, but i think there's some screws loose. perhaps taken away from mummy too early