Pets make for a great addition to any family. Dogs and cats are great options, especially if your children are interested in the responsibilities of having one but also would like a good companion. Sadly, however, not a lot of people are interested in adoption or the welfare of animals. As a pet owner who has two rescue dogs—they were about to be put down before I adopted them!—I believe there are several important reasons you should adopt a pet:

Saving a life

According to statistics from the Humane Society of the United States, this year in the United States alone, 2.7 million cats and dogs were euthanized. The reason? Shelters became too crowded and people didn’t think of it as an issue that needed to be corrected. In other words, by adopting an animal that is about to be put down, you will not only save that creature’s life, but you will also help them by giving them a sense of trust, a feeling that they will be safe and loved, and that will give room for another animal in the shelter that may need it due to extreme circumstances or safety issues.

Health

According to scientists cited in Time magazine, pets are a great way to help with mental health and overall well-being. Dogs, especially, are great in this area. Some different ways dogs help with mental health include tasks such as grooming and walking. These activities help individuals cope with conditions such as depression and anxiety. These activities have also shown to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In my own experiences as a dog owner, having pets over the years has really helped me with my social skills and my anxiety levels. Before these animals entered my life, I was shy and awkward. Now, I am much more easy going. My pets have also helped me with my stress and anxiety levels.

Helping other animals in need

As stated above, shelters get very crowded every year and unfortunately, animals are put down when their lives could have been saved by being adopted. By supporting your local shelter, you will not only guarantee that when you adopt an animal of any kind that you will be giving them a loving and supporting environment—and also saving a precious life—but most important of all, you will be creating more room in that shelter for animals who desperately need a good and safe place to stay. Furthermore, you will encourage other people to adopt and help the shelter out.

As a side note, you should volunteer at your local animal shelter. Doing so will give you a good sense of leadership and is a great way to give back to your community and hopefully inspire others to do the same in their communities.

Due to the reasons listed above, I hope that this piece encourages more people to read and follow up on the issue of pet adoption. Go and see what you can do in your community to create more attention around this issue. Therefore, I encourage all of you to spend a lot of time with your pets if you have any, and support any animal shelters in the area that may need help.