In December 2008, after Vice President Biden obtained a new dog from a breeder, the poor woman who owned the kennel was pilloried by PETA, and harassed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Dog breeders have been demonized as overbreeding animals, inbreeding animals, and lousy food and living conditions. Well, while some breeders abuse their charges, the same can be said for any business. Some people are ethical, some aren?t. This woman didn?t deserve what had happened to her.
Having said that, when it comes to protecting the environment, it does make a lot more sense to adopt a dog from a dog shelter rather than purchase a pure-bred one from a breeder. That?s because there are so many abandoned dogs out there, especially now when the economy has been so bad that thousands of pet owners have abandoned their pets because they could no longer afford to feed or house them.
If you want to get a dog from a breeder, don?t let anyone pressure you into not doing so. However, consider that there are plenty of loveable dogs and cats in shelters that will make the perfect pet.
1. Spay or neuter your pet
One you do get a dog or a cat, please have it spayed or neutered. There are so many homeless animals now, you only contribute to the problem even more if you allow your unfixed dog or cat to roam wild and breed.
2. Keep pets on leashes
Many communities have leash laws, and t hose that don?t really should have them. Once you?ve invested some love in a dog or cat, isn?t it heart-breaking to come across their body in the street because some car ran over it accidently?
In addition, cats should be kept indoors. Outside, they kill birds, squirrels and other animals.
Cats and dogs that roam outside are in danger from other predators, and picking up ticks and fleas (with all the diseases they bring), and so on. The average life span of an outdoor cat is less than three years; an indoors-only cat lives from 15 to 18 years.
4. Feed your pets well
Don?t buy pet food unless it contains FDA-certified, food-grade meat. Otherwise, it?s simply not healthy for your cat or dog. And don?t try to turn them into vegetarians. They aren?t.
So check out natural and organic pet foods that use meat raised in sustainable, humane ways without added drugs or hormones, minimally processed, and preserved naturally.
5. Pick up after your pet
If you?re walking your dog and it squats and poops, do you clean it up? You?re supposed to. Otherwise, some poor person is going to come along, and step in it, and have that aroma on their shoes for the rest of the day. Or another dog is going to come along and roll in it, as is their wont.
If you don?t want to use your dog?s excrement as compost, at least ensure that you encase it in biodegradable bags.
For cat owners, clay litter is not a healthy choice. Make sure you use eco-friendly cat litters.
8. No bunnies or chicks for Easter
Lots of kids want a pet bunny or a chick for Easter, but most of them don?t want to care for the little creatures?at least not once they reach adulthood and lose their cuddly cuteness. Many careless pet owners release their unwanted pets into the wild, which is a cruel thing to do. Better not to purchase them at all.
