Top 10 Reasons to Adopt from an Animal Shelter

1. Less expensive. Compare how much, say, a Boston Terrier is from a breeder to getting one from your local animal shelter. Depending on your locale, a breeder might charge you $350 to $500 for a pure bred puppy. From the shelter? You might get one for around $100. You can get other dogs and cats for the same or less.

2. They're already spade or neutered. Animals are in shelters because they're not wanted anymore. This is sad, but true. And, in effort to curb the pet population (which would create even more pets that may be unwanted), shelters usually spay or neuter the pets before they're adopted. This eliminates a major obstacle for those who don't want to risk a future responsibility.

3. They have their shots. Reputable pounds and shelters give the animals shots before putting them up for adoption. This reduces the chance of common diseases and helps put the potential new owners concerns regarding transmittable diseases at ease.

4. They're usually house trained. Usually, that is. While some dogs need a little more training after they've been adopted, new pet owners won't usually have too many accidents to clean up after. Most cats, on the other hand, are litter trained almost from the time of birth. Knowing the new family member is litter or house trained is a great relief to most owners - particularly those with light colored carpeting.

5. It will change your life. You will have responsibility and commitment. You'll also get a friend and a companion. You'll take more walks (and probably less bed space) if you adopt a dog. You'll wake up with feet on your face if you adopt a cat. You'll learn to think like your animal, too.

6. It will change the animal's life. Life in a cage isn't much fun (that's why we have jails). Animals enjoy having space to roam and play. They also crave love. Despite shelters' best efforts, they simply don't have the staff to provide all of the love, nor the space for them to enjoy.

7. It will save an animal's life. Sadly, most of the animals at shelters who are not adopted are euthanized. Again, shelters have a finite amount of space to house animals and often have limited resources to keep them alive. Adopting a pet from a shelter, therefore, saves its life. That's why they're often referred to as "rescued."

8. Huge selection. Despite having limited space, most shelters have a huge selection of adoptable pets. You can pick and choose the pet that fits into your lifestyle - and your family's lifestyle. More often than not, though, owners don't pick the pets - the pets tend to pick their owners.

9. The love you give comes back to you. When you love an animal, the animal love you back. Oh, it may take a little while to earn your new pet's trust, but you will be loved back. When else are you going to be able to give something away and have it constantly returned to you?

10. You'll get a new best friend. Going for a walk? Watching the game? Looking for protection? Going on a road trip? Pets from shelters are great companions and great friends.