100th proj :000 Hello! I'm a big animal fan and aspiring vet, so I thought I would make this project, alongside the blockshade, to spread awareness about where you should, and shouldn't get a dog. Dogs are loyal and kind( not to mention, super cute!) pets who will risk everything and anything for us. In many cases, dogs have saved lives in many ways, like fetching help for their stranded human, or sniffing out a missing child. Dogs are amazing animals, which is why so much people are fond of them and want a dog. Well, sometimes, this want is taken for an advantage by cruel business owners. You might find a cute pup in your local pet store and love it so much, but do not buy it, I repeat, do not buy it. First of all, dogs are beings too. They do not 'belong' to someone, which is what is suggested by a buying a dog. Dogs are not inanimate objects. They cannot be bought. Second of all, this dog, or pup, probably has a dark past. You see, dogs and pups that are sold in pet stores are often bred in puppy mills. Breeding itself is not a bad thing, when done with care and the expertise of a breeder. But puppy mills- they're quite horrible places. One male and a female are thrown into a cage and forced to mate over and over again, to produce more pups. Frankly, these dogs are abused because they aren't even provided with proper food, water, and the conditions are downright filthy. At the end, the pups produced will be torn away from their parents, either to be sold at a pet store or to be forced to breed once again. These are the people you are buying your dogs from. Buying these pups will only encourage them to abuse these animals more. Again, this is only one of the many ways animals are abused all over the world, but you can make a difference for these dogs by not buying dogs. Well, where else can I get a dog, you ask? Well, there are plenty of animal shelters out there with tons of dogs who need homes. Animal shelters often have too many dogs, and not enough space. Many dogs taking refuge in the shelters might be forced out into the streets, and you can prevent that by adopting a dog. Often these adoptions cost nothing, and it makes you feel better that you made room for another dog to stay, and saved one as well that might have gotten stranded. Another option could be getting a dog from a breeder. I suggest you research breeders if you're going with this option. Look for breeders who have a good reputation and reviews. Make sure to meet this breeder in person( with a trusted adult if you're a minor) and observe their relationship with their dogs. Is it built on fear, or love? Look for a trusted, and loving breeder who would not abuse their dogs in a million years. If the breeder has passed all these questions with flying colors, you can start looking for a dog you want to adopt from them. Notice the key word is adopt, not buy. Do not buy dogs from anyone. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Well, I hope you learnt something from this project, and please spread the word to raise awareness! <33 ~Sari
