6–8 million animals end up in shelters each year, half of which will probably not be adopted. 25 percent of pets in shelters are purebreds. Breed-specific rescue groups always have purebred dogs and puppies looking for new homes. Most pets end up homeless through no fault of their own—”moving” and “landlord issues” are the top reasons people give for relinquishing their pets, meaning shelters and rescue groups are full of wonderful, family-ready pets. Pets adopted from shelters and rescue groups typically cost less than pets purchased or even acquired for free—once you add in the cost of vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchip, dewormer, and other “extras” included in your adoption fee, you’ll probably be surprised what a bargain an adopted pet really is! Most shelters and rescue groups conduct thorough behavioral analyses of each pet to ensure that they will be the right fit for your family. Shelters and rescue groups can provide advice on making your relationship with your pet the best it can be for the rest of their life, so you’ll never have to go it alone.

Source: The Humane Society