Adopt Don’t Shop – Local Pet Rescues and Adoption Information
When it comes to getting a pet, you’ve probably heard the moto “adopt don’t shop.” There are several reasons adoption is better than picking out your dog or cat from a pet store, mainly being these little guys won’t have a home otherwise.
Some people might feel like rescues limit your choices when it comes to getting a pet, but that’s simply not true! Between the SD Humane Society, TAP, and breed specific rescues, there are dozens of options for you when it comes to finding the perfect pet in San Diego.
Below is a shortened version of what could be a huge list of local shelters.
Shelter List
There are plenty of shelters in San Diego that are no-kill and non-profit that offer cats and dogs. If you’re looking for birds, reptiles, rodents, or amphibians, it might be a little bit harder to find options for adoption, but there are some agencies that carry other types of pets. Here is a quick list of some of the places we know to be ethical choices:
The SD Humane Society - https://www.sdhumane.org/
Helen Woodward Animal Center - https://animalcenter.org/adopt-a-pet/
TAP - https://theanimalpad.org/adopt/
Also check out SD Shelters, a site ran by the San Diego Animal Support Foundation!
http://sdshelters.org/shelters.html
This website contains a long list of local groups that offer all sorts of pets. Just be sure to read their warning as they list shelters that are for-profit. This option requires a bit of research on your end, but it is a wealth of information.
Why should you Adopt?
Adopting pets saves lives, keeps money away from puppy and kitty mills, and can often ensure your pet has been thoroughly checked out by a vet.
I won’t belabor the point that you’re probably already aware of, but shelters are very full. Fosters do their part to help give pets space and make them more house friendly, but there aren’t enough of them to make sure there’s enough space in shelters. By adopting, you’re funding a good cause and opening a slot up for a new pet, who might otherwise end up somewhere worse to come in.
Puppy and kitty mills are illegal in California, but there are still plenty of dogs and cats shipped across state lines to be sold at pet stores. That isn’t to say all pet stores are bad, but you have to be very mindful before shopping there.
When you get a dog from a shelter, it must be spayed/neutered and have up to date shots/vaccines. That isn’t to say every shelter dog is healthy, a lot of the time pet owners will surrender their pets to shelters because of health issues. These pets can end up needing expensive surgeries or medical exams. But that is just as true (if not more true) when you get your pet from a pet store or a “backyard breeder.” Dogs and cats from mills usually are inbred and suffer a lot of health problems. This is not true of all breeders, many work hard to make sure their pets are healthy and come from a diverse genetic line, but it is unfortunate on you to make sure of that ahead of time.
Can you Ethically Shop for a Pet?
Yes. As we mentioned in the previous section, ethical breeders do exist. If you want a specific breed of dog or cat, a breeder can be the right call. But be sure to do your homework and check on the person’s history.
Dog breeders that register with the AKC, for example, are vetted and checked up on. That doesn’t mean an AKC certification is all you need to see to make sure someone is ethically breeding dogs, but it is a good start.
The AKC has a well researched and put together article on selecting a breeder that applies to any type of pet, and we highly recommend you check it out if you want more information.
As for ethical pet stores, we are sure they exist, but we weren’t able to get any solid confirmation on any local stores. Our advice? Ask a pet store where they source their pets, if it is out of state, be careful. If they only sell puppies, have pets with cropped ears or tails, or pugs/bulldogs with cleft palates, this is not a great sign.
Fostering
The people who foster pets are true heroes. They usually take anxious or rambunctious animals out of shelters and bring them home so they can get 24/7 care.
Many foster families train the pets and help get them ready to be around children, other pets, and sometimes even potty train them, and they do it for free!
You can adopt pets that are being fostered from your local shelter. You can also volunteer to foster pets at shelters as well! This usually requires a checkup process by the shelter, but you will be doing them and the animals you help a world of good.
Pet Insurance
Did you know the best time to get pet insurance is the same week you adopt your pet? It’s true! By getting pet insurance early, you can save on all the vet visits that come with a new dog or cat. On top of that, you’ll be protected if your pet has any problems that would be considered “pre-existing conditions.”
You can get a free quote by clicking one of the links below!