Because pets require a lot of attention, especially dogs, who need to go outside every few hours, owners have a reason to get off the couch and be active.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet ownership has been shown to help lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness.
Every year, six to eight million dogs wait to be adopted from animals shelters — so many that millions are euthanized each year due to overcrowding, according to PETA.
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Javanese are vocal and friendly, but are also prone to several health conditions.
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The Devon rex weighs between 8 and 10 pounds and lives for about 13 years. This friendly, lively breed requires regular grooming and lots of attention.
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Adult American curls weigh no more than 10 pounds. These cats, named for the distinctive shape of their ears, enjoy lots of activity and attention.
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The tiny bambino weighs between 5 and 9 pounds. These cats are friendly, affectionate and love attention. They're easy to care for and make great companions for people of all ages.
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The European burmese is a loud, active breed that sheds a lot and loves attention. These cats weigh about 10 pounds and are great with children, adults and senior citizens.
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Quiet and friendly, the Scottish fold weighs about 9 pounds and needs only a moderate amount of attention. These cats are generally healthy and make great family pets.
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At just 6 pounds, the Cornish rex is one of the tiniest breeds. These cats are quiet, low maintenance and good with people. They live to be about 12 years old.
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Javanese are vocal and friendly, but are also predisposed to several health conditions. These cats weigh about 8 pounds.
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The Singapura is a quiet, playful breed that needs lots of attention. These cats weigh about 6 pounds and live an average of 13 years.
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The low-maintenance sphynx weighs 8-12 pounds. The sphynx is hypoallergenic, sheds very little and loves attention. These cats can be very vocal.
Adopting a shelter animal not only gives your pet a second chance in a happy home, but can also save it from being euthanized in an overcrowded shelter.
By taking home your new pet, you also make room at the shelter for another animal with nowhere else to go.
"Every single pet that is adopted frees shelter staff up to work with and prepare the next pet for potential adoption," said Kenny Lamberti, director of strategic engagement and companion animals for the Human Society.
Adopting makes the marketplace less available to puppy mills
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Australian cattle dogs are known for their intelligence and energy.
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American Bulldogs do well with large lawns and spaces to roam about. They are very sweet dogs but have strong temperaments that need to be managed from an early age.
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Dachsunds are known for their short legs and hot-dog-shaped bodies.
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American Staffordshire terriers are loyal, large-breed dogs. They are known for being good watchdogs.
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Beagles were originally bred as hunting dogs and are known for being loyal companions.
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German Shepherds are loyal and protective dogs that are used by law enforcement and military teams around the world due to their intelligence.
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Boxers are a large breed with a lower lifespan than others – 8 to 10 years – but are very intelligent and good playmates for children.
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Chihuahuas are tiny dogs with a long lifespan, ranging from 14 to 18 years. Because they are often raised without any training, these adorable puppies turn into uncontrolable adults and end up homeless when their owners give them up.
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Labrador retrievers can be ideal pets for families due to their demeanor and size. They also eat up to 4 cups of dog food per day, so it's best to check your budget before adopting one.
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American pit bull terriers are the dogs most often found in shelters across the United States.
According to Kathleen Summers, director of outreach and research for the Puppy Mills Campaign, even looking to buy an animal from a pet store helps prop up the puppy mill industry, because pet stores separate "the consumer from the reality of where mass-produced puppies come from."
"Great strides have been made in reducing the euthanasia of healthy homeless pets in this country," Summers said. "But a return to buying puppies from pet stores instead of adopting from shelters and rescues could turn back the clock to the days when the United States euthanized millions more adoptable dogs than we currently do."
One of the big myths about shelter pets is that all of them have behavioral issues or have been rescued from abuse. Many shelter animals, however, end up there because their owners can no longer care for them.
"The majority of pets in shelters are there because of 'people problems' like financial crisis/loss of income, divorce, lack of pet accessible housing or lack of access to veterinary care," said Cory Smith, director of public policy for companion animals at the Humane Society.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey with parrot in hand. Someone had thrown some scalding liquid on the bird and injured its face.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey reaches for a cat, hiding underneath a dresser. The cat's owner was found dead that morning and there were no family or friends willing to adopt the ownerless animal.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey prefers not to use tools during the rescue unless absolutely necessary. He said he gets a better sense of the animal's stress level and energy when he uses his bare hands.
Kazi Elman Awal
After a few minor scratches, Casey nabs the young cat.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey (center) and his staff stand outside the Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. Most staff members are volunteers.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey coaxes a parrot out of its cage. Having worked with animals his whole life, he is well versed in handling and caring for many species.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey with an injured parrot in hand as one of his volunteers looks on. Casey says that someone had probably thrown some scalding liquid on the bird and burned its face.
Kazi Elman Awal
The parrot wears a cone on to protect the wound. Casey said the bird will make a full recovery.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey helps a woman with adoption papers. He said part of his job is educating the public on all aspects of the adoption process, as well as animal care.
Kazi Elman Awal
Two customers check out a rescued snake. Along with dogs and cats, SCAR shelters reptiles, birds and small mammals. Casey was licensed by the state of New York as an assistant wildlife rehabilitator in 2007
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Casey, accompanied by a staff member, enters his store with a rescued cat in a carrier.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey takes a short breather with a volunteer outside SCAR.
Kazi Elman Awal
Casey has a laugh outside his shelter. Even though he is there seven days a week and work can sometimes be difficult, he said it's always rewarding.
Many of these animals, especially older ones, have already been housetrained and socialized. Shelter and rescue staff work hard to prepare pets for the transition to a new home and family.
"The goal of most shelters and rescues is to get pets out of their care and into homes as efficiently as possible," said Lamberti of the Humane Society. "So house training, basic training, and social skills are very important."
Shelter animals are often healthier than animals bought elsewhere
Animals undergo full physicals when they are brought to a shelter and many shelters have veterinary clinics on site to treat any medical issues that arise. Shelter staff makes sure animals are in top shape before they are ready to be adopted into a new home.
Many pet stores and even some breeders do not offer animals the same health services prior to adoption. Dogs born in puppy mills and sold at pet stores can carry diseases ranging from parasites to pneumonia, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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A Welsh terrier sleeps on a faded armchair.
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The friendly, playful Welsh terrier is known to be loving and independent.
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The Shiba Inu is a medium-sized dog known to be independent and outgoing, yet loyal and affectionate.
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The Xoloitzcuintli dog, also known as the Xolo or Mexican hairless dog, is cheerful and affectionate. It's known for being alert and intelligent, as well as protective and loyal.
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Biewers are a playful, social, toy-sized breed. They are very gentle and affectionate.
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The Tibetan spaniel is an independent, assertive and intelligent dog. A small, quiet breed, it's well suited to apartment living.
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The Lowchen is a small, affectionate breed. Lively and alert, these dogs are very playful and relatively easy to train.
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The Japanese Spitz is a small, playful breed. Loyal and affectionate, these dogs are low maintenance but need regular exercise.
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The Cardigan Welsh corgi is easy to train and does not need much exercise. These dogs are gentle, loving, loyal and alert.
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The medium-sized Irish terrier is cheerful, alert and playful, but can also be aggressive and protective. For this reason, Irish terriers make great guard dogs.
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The Icelandic sheepdog is a cheerful, medium-sized breed that weighs about 25 pounds. Friendly and affectionate, Icelandic sheepdogs enjoy having space to roam.
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The American Eskimo dog is independent and great with children. This medium-sized breed weighs about 30 pounds and known for its intelligence. These dogs are energetic and talkative.
Adopting a shelter animal is cheaper than buying from a breeder
The financial cost of adopting a shelter animal is almost always less than purchasing an animal from a breeder.
Depending on the age and breed of the animal, buying from a breeder could cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to upwards of $1,000, but this does not usually include any health benefits, according to Pet360.com.
Many shelters spay and neuter animals before adoption, saving adopters hundreds of dollars. Rescue animals are also often microchipped and vaccinated, which can cost up to $60 and $150, respectively.
Although adoption fees can still be hundreds of dollars, they include initial veterinary costs, which can add up quickly. Shelters around the country will waive or discount adoption fees on Saturday, August 19 during Clear the Shelters.
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Dedicated hunters and protectors, Rhodesian ridgebacks have a reserved, loyal nature that makes them excellent guard dogs.
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Originally bred for duck and bird hunting, poodles impress their owners with their intelligence and loving nature.
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Doberman pinschers were bred by a tax collector to protect him while he carried money in dangerous neighborhoods, so it's no exaggeration to say they were born to be guard dogs.
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Don't mess with a bull terrier — its strong jaws and powerful muscles make it a formidable opponent. These loyal companions make great protectors.
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Descending from the Molossus, an ancient war dog, the mastiff may have inherited its impressive size, but it has a much sweeter temperament.
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This fiercely intelligent breed is known for being loving and loyal. Highly trainable and aloof around strangers, German shepherds are ideal guard dogs.
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This high-energy breed is as loving as it is protective and tends to be cautious around strangers. With no sheep to herd, an Aussie may keep busy by monitoring small children instead.
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The ancient chow chow may have first started working as a guard dog when it accompanied Mongolian troops in the 13th century.
Bred to hunt boars and deer, half the Weimaraner's brain is devoted to its sophisticated sense of smell. Intelligent and loyal, these vigilant dogs are always on alert.
A pet will always be there for you
Shelters provide a space for animals of all different breeds, ages, shapes, sizes and personalities. They house so many different pets that you are sure to find an animal that fits your lifestyle and will serve as your perfect companion.
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