Thinking before find your best friend! By Eliane Carotta

After deeply thinking about writing this article, I decided to put my emotions on the side and do something very statistical. Been involved with abandoned animals for more than twenty years (since Brazil) and the huge amount of emails and situations I’ve witnessed lately, motivated me to do it.
If you are considering having a pet, or know somebody willing to do it, you should read it before.

According to the APPA (American Pet Products Association) America’s spending on pets has grown despite the recession, with a 5.4% increase in 2009. The APPA’s annual comprehensive review shows spending on animals, food, supplies, veterinary care, grooming, boarding and pet sitting jumped to $45.5 billion in American in 2009, up from $43.2 billion in 2008. And it projects another increase — of nearly 5%– in 2010.
Looking at these numbers, I guess Americans are pet lovers and care about their companions, right?

According to a National Pet Owners Survey (2009-2010) published by The Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs and 93.6 million owned cats in the United States. Nineteen percent of owned dogs and twenty-two percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter.
Still nice and positive numbers?

Unfortunately national statistics show that nearly 50% of all animals in shelters are euthanized due to the lack of homes. 
America has become a nation of disposable pet owners.
Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them.

Many cats and dogs who die as a result of pet overpopulation could have made wonderful pets. Between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year; far too many to all find homes.

Are you and your family willing to make around 10 year commitment? Choose wisely, for when the bond breaks, everybody concerned suffers.

These are some options if you decided to adopt a pet:
www.adoptapet.com
www.petfinder.com

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