4 Reasons Why You Should Adopt Your Next Pet {This Weekend}

Long before my husband and I had children, we were the proud parents of an adorable dog named, Toby.

Toby was a sweet boy who loved long walks, a warm lap, and chasing the squirrels out of our back yard. When he became a big brother, we weren’t sure how he would handle a baby intruding in his space, but from the beginning he adored our children and the feeling was mutual.

Toby was a beagle/pointer mix that we adopted during a PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend back in 2002. When we were searching for a dog a friend suggested that we consider pet adoption and told us about the PetSmart event. When we visited the store that weekend in 2002, we met many adorable dogs, but as we were sitting on the floor of the store checking out all of the dogs, Toby walked over and sat on my lap. As my heart melted, my husband and I looked at each other knowing that Toby would be coming home with us.

National Adoption Weekend is a three-day adoption event that is held four times a year and hosts a large selection of dogs and cats available for adoption in all participating PetSmart stores in North America. On average, more than 15,000 companion pets find their forever home during each National Adoption Weekend. The next event is this weekend, November 13-15, 2015.

We had such a positive adoption experience and I highly recommend to anybody looking for a pet to consider adopting. If you are thinking about adding a dog or cat to your family, here are four reasons why you should adopt your next pet.

4 Reasons Why You Should Adopt Your Next Pet

1. You are saving a life.

Every year, an estimated 7 million pets enter U.S. shelters and nearly 3 million never find homes. But by adopting a pet, you are not only saving the life of your new pet, but also making room for more pets at shelters and rescue groups. You’re giving other homeless pets a better chance of finding a home. PetSmart Charities helps more than 400,000 pets every year find their furever home.

2. Adopting a pet will save you money.

When you adopt a pet through the PetSmart Charities, your new pet will already be spayed, neutered, and current on vaccinations. These are costly, yet important procedures and your new pet will no longer contribute to the pet over-population problem and will be up-to-date on their shots. Price was definitely a consideration when we were looking for a dog and we found that adopting saved us quite a bit of money over buying a pet elsewhere.

3.  You’ll impact your community.

PetSmart Charities partners with local adoption groups to provide the dogs and cats for the pet adoption events. When you adopt one of these pets, PetSmart Charities pays the local group a small fee, which helps them save another pet’s life. You are positively affecting the pet homelessness problem in your local area.

4. You’ll impact your life.

Pets are just plain awesome and good for your mental health. Your new dog or cat will love you unconditionally, require hugs and snuggles, and become a loyal member of your family.

What happens at the PetSmart Charities National Pet Adoption Event?

PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization of animal lovers committed to ending pet homelessness by investing in more than 3,000 animal welfare groups across North America. Animal welfare organizations, including local humane societies, will be on-site at PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico with adoptable dogs and cats during the event.

Each group sets its own adoption application policies and fees (which typically include spay/neuter surgery, vaccination, microchips, etc.), so it will vary among stores.

Staff and volunteers from each location will be onsite throughout the event to assist with questions and the adoption process. Your local store will be able to answer questions regarding exact event times and availability of specific types of pets. To find a store, visit the PetSmart Store Locator.

Have I persuaded you to consider adoption? Find A Pet near you.

Come find your furever friend during National Adoption Weekend: November 13-15 at your local PetSmart store.

Are you thinking about adding a pet to your family? Would you consider adoption? If you adopt this weekend, share your story here in the comments and also with PetSmart Charities by visiting https://www.petsmartcharities.org/celebrate-your-pet/adoption-announcements

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