This is a guest post written for Pet Pupz by the fantastic Sarah Oren.

Finding the “perfect” dog is not rocket science. When looking for a new pet, you need to know about some general breed varieties and the responsibility dog ownership entails. But the one piece of advice I will give to anyone looking for a dog is this: ADOPT. No matter what age, breed or size you want, your ideal dog is out there.

Of course, it is undeniable how adorable pet store puppies look when playing in store windows… yet it is a sad (but very true) fact that all those pet store puppies come from irresponsible breeders or puppy mills. A puppy mill is a factory-like facility where adult dogs are kept in cages for their entire lives, acting as breeding machines to birth puppies for profit. These dogs are often living in deplorable conditions, devoid of basic health care, exercise, grooming, and even human contact.

Despite what the stores will tell you (“These puppies all come from very responsible breeders, we would never buy from puppy mills!”), it is a fact that no responsible breeder would send their puppies to a pet store. Going back to my original point, puppies are adult dogs alike can be adopted through rescue groups and animal shelters to support a much more humane cause! When adopting through a nonprofit rescue group, the dog’s adoption fee is relatively low ($50 – $500), their health care is covered, they are spayed/neutered, and their personality has been evaluated.

I don’t always believe in the adage “you get what you pay for” … when paying $3,000 for a purebred puppy, is that puppy any better than that same dog adopted from a rescue group for $300? It is a matter of making an informed decision, and I have made it my life mission to spread the word about the amazing benefits of adoption. Shelter dogs often end up there because of life changes with their former owners: divorce, new baby, eviction, moving, etc…

When there are millions of animals euthanized in shelters every year, we must remind ourselves to consider adoption before considering buying from a breeder. Whether you are looking for a Maltese puppy in Manhattan, or an adult Basset Hound in Boston, your adoptable dog is waiting for you. If you are looking for an adoptable dog and need some extra guidance, have The Dog Matchmaker help you find your best dog match! For more information, visit www.thedogmatchmaker.net or email sarah ‘at’ thedogmatchmaker ‘dot’ net.

Article by Sarah Oren
Owner, TheDogMatchmaker.net
Editor, FosterDogsNYC.com