According to a survey released by Hartz Mountain Corp., 60 percent of pet owners hope to adopt their next dog or cat from a rescue organization or animal shelter.
Ten percent of those surveyed plan to use a registered breeder, and four percent will go to a pet store.
The report also revealed that nearly half (47 percent) of the respondents said their pet is like a child to them. Forty-two percent said they would compare their pet to a good friend.
One of the best things about adopting a rescued pet is the knowledge you are saving a deserving dog or cat from languishing in a shelter or being put to death.
In honor of National Pet Week and all the wonderful shelter animals waiting patiently for new forever homes, here are a dozen more great reasons to adopt an abandoned or rescued cat or dog.
Depending on his background, your older pet may already be housebroken or litter box trained and know basic obedience commands like come, sit, stay and down.
Many shelters and rescues also provide lots of new owner support in the form of materials about training, common behavior problems, nutrition, basic grooming and general care. In some cases there are even free hotlines you can call for questions on behavior, training and other concerns.