Pledge to adopt, not buy, a companion.

The decision to bring a companion animal into your home shouldn’t be made lightly, but when you do, please consider this… For every animal sold in pet stores, equally healthy and deserving animals in shelters face death row whilst waiting for someone to adopt them.

The sale of animals online, from pet stores and unethical breeders, underpins an overbreeding crisis, resulting in thousands of animals being euthanised every year simply because there aren’t enough good homes for them.

Your commitment to adopt, not buy, can save lives, free up shelter space for other animals in need, and help to end the pet overpopulation crisis.

This pledge plays a vital role — but you can have an even greater impact for animals today.

Here’s how:

• Avoid making impulse decisions about bringing an animal into your home, as adopting is a life-long commitment. Consider fostering, which is a fantastic way to help while offering a little more flexibility compared to adoption. If you are ready to welcome a four-legged friend to your family, find a local rescue shelter or head to the Pet Rescue website.
• Having your companion animals desexed before reproductive age (between 2 – 3 months for cats and dogs) is extremely important to help end the overbreeding crisis. ‘Accidental’ litters are responsible for many of the surrendered kittens and puppies who are euthanised each year because loving homes can’t be found for them.
• Ensure that your companion animals have a visible collar and address tag, and are microchipped so that even if their collar is lost they can be returned home safely.
• Only support ‘pet shops’ that sell animal supplies like food, bedding, leashes and toys, and do not sell live animals. Pet stores that are an exception are those that help to rehome rescued animals — by having shelter animals on display in their store, they are actively helping to solve the pet overpopulation problem.