Adopt A Pet Shelter Day On Saturday A Second Chance For Cats And Dogs

ACROSS AMERICA — Millions of pets are awaiting adoption in shelters across the country, including through rescue groups participating in Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on Saturday.

Adopt A Shelter Pet Day, observed every year on April 30, was set aside to raise awareness of the millions of cats, dogs and other pets waiting for adoption at 3,500 animal shelters across the country.

People looking for a pet should consider adopting rather than buying from a pet store or breeder, according to animal welfare advocates.

About 3.2 million cats and 3.1 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters every year, according to the ASPCA, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

About 2.1 million cats and 2 million dogs are adopted every year, but some never make it out. About 530,000 cats and 390,000 dogs are euthanized every year, according to the ASPCA.

There is some evidence that awareness campaigns such as Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and adoption events are reducing the number of companion animals that languish in shelters or are put down. The ASPCA also said more lost pets are returned to their owners now than a decade ago, when 6.2 million of the 7.2 million cats and dogs entering shelters were euthanized.

There are multiple reasons to adopt a pet. One of the big ones is the money you’ll save.

Buying a pet isn’t cheap. Both purebred dogs and purebred cats can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. The record spent for a dog appears to be $1.95 million, the amount a Chinese businessman spent to acquire a Tibetan mastiff, a status symbol in China.

A couple of other examples: A Samoyed, an ancient breed from Siberia, costs about $14,000 as a puppy, and the cost of a Corgi ranges from around $700 to $2,000.

The purchase price doesn’t include the cost to spay, neuter, vaccinate or microchip the pet, services that are often included in pet shelter adoption fees.