Welcome to Pet Viewpoint
Comment/Question?
Please contact Copywriter Tricia Perry
If you have not subscribed —
Get Pet Viewpoint content delivered directly to your inbox weekly so you do not miss out on great recommended USA-made pet products and services and good researched articles on pet care for your pet birds, cats, dogs, and aquarium critters. You will find how to’s, lessons on pets, training tips, fun stories, and more.
So you can pick the most relative to your interests, all posts are categorized by subject on my Welcome page in the menu (listed below my 5 latest posts).
DON’T MISS OUT!
FREE Pet Tips & Recommendations
Type your Email >>>
********************
I recently saw a question asked on Quora, to wit: “Is it better for people to adopt pets from shelters instead of buying them at pet stores? What are the potential benefits or drawbacks of each option?” So I decided to make that the subject of my post “Rescue Shelter Pet or Pet Store Purchase?”.
Rescue Shelter Pet Benefits
- To start, a rescue from a shelter is beneficial since the pet may have been ‘given back’ by a less than commited pet parent but with some pet history available. If the animal was a stray living on the streets in need of a good and loving forever home, the shelter may then have some information on the pet from their observations about the animal’s likes, dislikes, possibly some health issues, and personality.
- The shelter also normally will have spayed or neutered the animal and given them some basic vaccinaions. A nice bit of vet savings for you.
- Many rescue organizations will match you with an animal that would be your best fit. Some may even give you a trial period with the animal. Lower adoption fees may be available at a shelter.
- You can normally visit the animal of interest more than once to determine if he or she will be right for your home and vice versa. Hence you can take your time and get to know your prospective pet a bit.
- Most shelters also offer the opportuity to ‘foster’ a pet. Some shelters even provide care and training opportunities to further your pet knowledge and preparation as a pet parent.
- If you adopt an older pet, they will most likely already be potty trained and possibly have additional training.
Shelter Drawbacks
- You will need to apply online or in writing to adopt a pet. There will most likely be a waiting period involved. You will be scrutinized as to your own acceptability as a pet owner.
- There may be little information available on the animal’s background. In that case, he or she may have behavioral problems if they were abused or neglected or tramatized by something in their past. However, If there are behavioural problems, observations by the shelter personnel should give you an indication of such.
- As an aside, I believe the afore mentioned ‘drawbacks’ are a definite good thing for the animals involved. Unfortunately, there are people who should not own an animal..people who mistreat animals.
Pet Store Purchase Benefits
- You have the convenience of buying your pet outright without any waiting period or much scrutinization.
- Pet stores normally have information available on care and nutrition for pets as well as products for their care on hand to purchase.
- The pet store personnel may have some background info for you and an experienced pet person on staff to speak with you.
Pet Store Purchase Drawbacks
- Retail pet stores are in business to make a profit and the animals for sale are also their products.
- The retail personnel presently on staff may not have a lot of information to impart. That person is a retail worker and may not be as inclined toward helping the animal as would be the intent of shelter personnel whose main focus is finding the animal a good home.
- Many pet store animals are from mills with little information and taken at too early an age from their mothers.
- Pet store animals are exposed to disease with many visitors and handlers.
- There very likely is no one person with much in the way of time observing the animal’s likes, dislikes, personality, health issues, etc.
- One would need to investigate how the pet store acquires its animals. If there is no information offered, walk away.
What have you gathered from all of the above? Let me have your conclusions and thoughts. I, personally, am definitely going to a good reliably reviewed shelter for my next pet. And, for more information on pet adoption, see my post entitled “Adopt a Pet“.
Pet Food Recalls
Pet Age has recently published info on a new recall related to farm animals. You can check out their information with the link provided. However, please remember to periodically check with the FDA.gov site for pet food recall information always available.
Funny Animal Videos
This is a fun video from Big Geek Daddy on music and animals – https://biggeekdad.com/2022/03/music-for-animals/.
Next in line is about a dog who could not catch – https://biggeekdad.com/2017/04/dog-couldnt-catch/.
And last, we have the biggest cat in NYC – https://biggeekdad.com/2018/03/the-biggest-cat-in-new-york-city/.
Thanks
Pet Viewpoint thanks you for coming by. Please remember to subscribe so you do not miss some fun stories and great pet tips to benefit your best buds. And, do share our site on your social media with your friends and family. Your comments are always welcome down below on the left.