June 4th was National Hug Your Cat Day!
Happy National Hug Your Cat Day! (Well yesterday…#publishingsetbacks)
What’s that? You’ve never heard of National Hug Your Cat Day? Well … most people haven’t. But, really, it ought to be appreciated more: an entire day dedicated to appreciating our furry friends. On a more productive note (if such a thing can be extrapolated from Hug Your Cat Day), it can also be viewed as an opportunity for those without pets to consider adopting a cat (or dog) from a shelter. Before you do, though, you should put some real thought into where you want to adopt from.
Pet stores
Avoid them. It’s really that simple. Most pet stores get their cats and dogs from kitten and puppy mills (yes, kitten mills exist), which are commercial breeding facilities with infamously deplorable conditions. Don’t be fooled by store employees or even the store’s advertisements. The only way to ensure that you’re not financially endorsing these mills is by avoiding pet stores altogether.
Breeders
If you’re dead set on adopting a particular breed (it’s okay, I have a thing for Cornish Rexes), then take care to find a responsible breeder. The Humane Society offers specific criteria to determine the respectability of a dog breeder (that would also apply to a cat breeder). One simple rule of thumb is to make sure the breeder allows you to see all the areas where the animals spend their time. Respectable breeders raise their kittens and puppies in conditions they would be proud to show off. So, if your breeder shows some hesitancy to pull back the curtain… turn around and find someone else.
Shelters
Adopting from a shelter is, far and away, the most responsible way to get a pet. Though it’s still wise to do your research, and preferably adopt from a no-kill shelter, shelters are, on the whole, a reliable way to adopt a healthy cat or dog without endorsing systematic animal abuse.