1. Jenna Mays jenna.mays@smail.astate.edu
Adopt, Don’t Shop
Jenna Mays

2. Pet Ownership Dogs Cats 70-80 million owned 74-96 million owned
36.5% of households own dogs
That’s 43,346,000 households in the United States
74-96 million owned
30.4% of households own cats
That’s 36,117,000 households in the United States

3. How Do People Get Animals?
Breeders, Shelters, Strays
What is a breeder?
A person who breeds dogs to make new dogs.
25% of dogs come from breeders
35% of dogs get adopted from shelters
37% of cats get adopted from shelters

4. Why People Get Rid of Animals
Can’t afford them
Landlord does not allow pets
Severe allergies
Animal’s behavioral problems
Does not want them anymore

5. Shelters 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters each year
3.9 million are dogs
3.4 million are cats
649,000 animals who enter shelters return to their original owners
542,000 are dogs
Only 100,000 are cats

6. Importance of Adopting
You’ll save a life
Each year, 2.7 million animals are euthanized in the United States.
Fight against puppy mills
If you buy an animal from a store, you are more than likely getting it from a puppy mill.
Puppy mills profit off of the welfare of dogs.
Make your life and that animal’s life so much better!

7. Importance of Adopting continued
You’ll get a great animal
Shelter pets are always so happy when they are placed in a loving home
It’ll cost you less
Spay/Neuter, Vaccinations, and sometimes Microchipping is included in Adoption fee!
Adoption will help more than one animal
You are making room for other animals to get adopted, adoption fee goes towards helping the shelters take care of those animals

8. What it Cost to Adopt and Buy an Animal
Shelters
Buying
Average cost to adopt a dog: $100-$200
Average cost to adopt a cat: $50-$100
Included in Adoption Fee
Physical Exam
Spay/Neuter
Flea/Tick & Heartworm Treatment
ID Tag
Microchipping
Spay/Neuter: $50-$175
Wellness Exam: $30-$65
Vaccinations: $25-$85
Bloodwork & Fecal Test: $40-$125
Flea, Tick & Heartworm: $140-$240
Microchip: $25-$50

9. Too Many Animals without a Home
Overpopulated
Each year, more than 6 million dogs and cats are lost, abandoned, or unwanted.
2 to 3 million dogs and cats have to be euthanized each year because of overpopulation
Why is this a big problem?
Unwanted pets
Responsibility gets too much for owners
Pure laziness

10. What Can You Do To Help Spay/Neuter your animals
Get animals vaccinated
Get an animal from legitimate shelter or non-profit organization
Free up a space in the shelter for another animal to get a chance at a forever home

11. Where to Adopt a Pet in Jonesboro, AR
Northeast Arkansas Humane Society
Jonesboro Animal Control

12. References
statistics-US-pet-ownership.aspx
surrender/pet-statistics