Colleen with her rescue dog, Sailor, who she adopted as a puppy.
Dear Friends,
Every dog that I have been blessed to have in my life, from childhood to present, has been adopted and I will never buy a puppy, knowing that millions of them sit alone in the shelter every day, all over the world. There is no way to describe the pain this causes my heart, to imagine their fear, loneliness and despair. Many never make it out of the cage or kennel to enjoy a life of love and security...they have no toys or grass to romp on, they never feel a soft breeze sweep across their tender noses or experience the warm arms of a loving human. Every day is the same type of bitter fear for them until they're on the euthanasia table. Do you want to help change that? Please don't buy a puppy from a pet store that sells puppies from puppy mills, which neglect and torture dogs for the sake of financial gain. This does not include large pet store chains that give space to local rescues.
I believe in your right to invest in a purebred puppy, if that's what you want to do for your yourself or your family, but please make sure that you're doing your homework about the breed, to ensure you're able to meet the requirements of exercise, feeding and necessary space. Often times, movie dogs and designer breeds are sought after by children, given as a gift by parents, without any research, soon resulting in the novelty wearing off and the dog needing re-homing because no one has the time to provide what the dog needs. If you absolutely must have a purebred puppy, buy from a reputable breeder, one that has a great reputation, a clean facility and good references from local vets and other sources. Never buy a puppy off the internet or send money through the mail. There are so many puppy scams, especially around National Puppy Day. We have a great article written by the Better Business Bureau on our homepage. It's a lengthy but vital read.
Lastly, keep in mind that you can find purebred rescues all over the country, filled with beautiful dogs that were relinquished for a myriad of reasons. In my opinion, pet adoption is always the better choice. If we're ever going to fix the problem of pet overpopulation and eliminate the senseless deaths of million of pets each year, it starts with YOU! Be part of the solution to change the future for abandoned pets. Please also spay & neuter your pets --as it helps lower pet over-population, may possibly reduce cancer risk and help with behavior problems.
Please open your heart and home to a furry soul in need today and if you can't, volunteer at your local shelter or donate at least $5.
Wishing you lots of puppy kisses....
Colleen Paige
Founder of National Puppy Day