This Is Why You Should Always Adopt

After working at an animal shelter for a year I can say with confidence that the math is very simple -- there are too many animals chasing far too few permanent homes.  The problem with breeders and commercial dealers is, simply, they don't fucking care, and economic hardship also plays a role:

"Pet food costs have outpaced general inflation by 0.6%, and a single surprise veterinary bill can launch 42% of pet owners into debt, according to a recent Forbes study. As a result, shelters around the US are seeing an increase in owner surrenders and a steep decline in adoptions with no sign of improving.

'We’re packed right now. We’re putting animals in cages in the hallways,' explains Katy Hansen, director of marketing and communications at New York’s Animal Care Centers (ACC), a no-kill shelter that has seen a 25% uptick in surrenders this year over last. 'It’s really sad, people crying, it’s a part of their family. But if you’re choosing between feeding your family and feeding your pet, your choices are limited.'” 

It's impossible not to moralize here, but taking on a pet as a family member really is a life-time economic commitment.