essay about adopting a pet

Adopting a Pet for a Balanced Life Essay

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Introduction

Adopting a pet.

Human beings have always been viewed as social creatures and their interaction with others plays a very pivotal role in their personal growth and development. Our intense need to feel some warmth and connection is, therefore, necessary for a balanced life. It is for this reason that we surround ourselves with friends and socialize with other members of society. However, one cannot always count on his fellow human beings to be available to provide companionship and the feeling of warmth. One can on the other hand be relatively certain that his pets will be there to provide some form of companionship when he needs it. It is with these undertones that I shall set out to talk about the pet that I would prefer to adopt. I shall also aim to positively influence my friend to adopt a pet for herself as well.

My pet of choice is a dog, an animal that I have always been fond of since I was a little girl. Dogs have always been tagged as “man’s best friend” mostly due to their loyalty and sometimes affectionate nature. My main attraction to the dog as my pet of choice is the companionship attribute as well as the loyalty that seems to be innate in all breeds of dogs. While I do reside with a significant other, my house tends to get eerily quiet at times and it is in my hope that a pet dog will dispense of this and bring in some warmth. The playful nature of the dog will also ensure that I am preoccupied with a significant part of my evenings thereby helping me to relax by taking my mind off the stresses of the day.

Bricklin(1999) asserts that caring for a pet is a significant commitment and as such, one has to be willing to keep regular hours, spend time caring for the animal and also invest a significant amount of money in the animal’s health and food costs. While I will be able to cater adequately to my pet’s health and food needs, my busy daily schedule leaves me with little time to spare. As a result of this, it would make sense for me to chose a pet dog that does not require too much attention and one whose maintenance is not too involving. The particular dog that I intend to get is the Maltese Dog. Unlike other dog breeds that shed their fur frequently and in substantial quantities, the Maltese Dog breed sheds only sparingly, therefore, making it an ideal pet for me as it requires little effort cleaning after. Additionally, the Maltese are considered to be a hypoallergenic breed which means that I will not have to worry about my friends developing allergic reactions as a result of exposure to my new pet.

As can be alluded from the discussion above, a pet would be a valuable addition to you Susan, my long term friend and neighbor. However, I do concede that my needs and your needs are different, and for example, you already have children and therefore do not lack warmth or laughter in your house. I, therefore, recognize that you would require a different appeal to invest in a pet. For a person with a family like you, a pet would an ideal play partner for your kids. This would not only keep your children fully engaged while you undertake other issues but it would also bring joy and keep entertained your active children.

Another advantage of having a pet dog is that since it requires regular exercise, you as the owner will be obliged to take it for regular walks. In the modern-day that we live in, we are mostly so hard-pressed with issues both at work and at home that we forfeit the very important task of looking after our bodies by regularly exercising. As such, a pet will be beneficial to you as well since you will be exercising even as you engage in regular walks. In my opinion, a pet can indeed be the anchor that keeps us from drifting into the sea of unfitness.

Having decided on what pet to adopt, the question arises as to where to get the physical pet from. According to the Humane Society of the United States (2009), an organization that facilitates the adoption of animals from animal shelters and rescue groups, adopting a pet from a shelter is more advantageous than buying one from a pet store or breeder. When you get your pet from a shelter or rescue group, it will be at a lower cost than if you were to buy it from a pet store. The pet is also more likely to have been vaccinated and de-wormed therefore ensuring that you obtain a healthy pet for yourself (Bricklin, 1999).

In this paper, I set out to identify the pet I plan on adopting and further discuss the reasons as to why it would be my ideal pet. To this end, I have identified a Maltese Dog, a small affectionate dog, as my pet of choice. I then proceeded to discuss the implications that having a pet might carry. Additionally, I have set out to persuade my friend to adopt a pet for herself as well. From this paper, it is clear that adopting a pet is a significant issue and as such, one should take their time when choosing the perfect pet. One should then provide a loving and safe environment for the pet and having done so, you can be assured that the pet will reciprocate by being a dependable and loyal addition to your house.

Bricklin, M. (1999). Pets, Part of the Family: The Total Care Guide for All the Pets in Your Life, USA: Rodale.

The Humane Society of the United States (2009). Adopting From an Animal Shelter or Rescue Group. Web.

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Lessons From Friday: How Adopting a Dog Taught Us to Trust Our Kids

She had mange, few teeth, smelled bad ... and we fell in love with her.

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“I don’t think today’s the day,” I said. My husband agreed. But unfortunately, we’d brought our kids along. “HOW ABOUT THIS CUTE ONE?” Sophie shouted. She was pointing at one of the hardened criminals we’d already taken a pass on. “ SO CUTE!” Zoë yelled. “CAN WE TAKE HER OUT TO PLAY?”

We asked the shelter employee if that was okay, and unfortunately, she said yes. And so we took Ma Barker outside, but only because we didn’t want our kids to think we’re the types who judged a book by its cover, even though we were.

We walked her around a muddy path, our girls pointing out her features like over-excited used car salesmen. “Lookit! She has ears! And…and… a tail !” But what she didn’t have: teeth. The bottom row was gone. And fur. She’d lost most of hers to mange.

As the dog plodded along in a way that indicated this wasn’t her first rodeo and she already knew how it would end, I went back inside to read her rap sheet. Turned out she’d been seized from a home due to neglect. “Severe neglect,” an employee confided. “The owner was jailed.”

“What happened to her teeth?”

“Tried to chew her way through the chains. Ground them all the way down to the nubs.”

I felt instantly ill. “Do you know anything else about her?”

The guy looked at me. “She’s been here nine days.”

“Ten is the max.”

I went back outside. “What do we think?” I asked my husband and the kids, hoping the dog would have snapped at someone by now and we could go. “SHE’S PERFECT!” the kids screamed. I looked at my husband. “Is it just me,” he said in a low voice, “or does this dog smell weird?” Fun fact about David: He lost his sense of smell decades earlier in a high school chemistry lab accident, and when it finally made a comeback, it was without the standard set of noxious odor alerts. This made him great at changing diapers but little else. So for him to say, “Does this dog smell weird?” meant something.

“It’s the mange medicine,” the shelter employee assured us. “Once she’s off that, she’ll be good as gold.”

“GOLD!” our kids shrieked.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re in the car with this semi-toothless, bad-smelling dog, partly because of the way our kids were beaming, but mostly I could not stop hearing, “ten is the max.” “She’ll need a name ,” David said, and the kids start reeling off possibilities — Sugary, Princess, Sweetie. “Great start!” we lied. “Keep going!”

The name game kept them occupied while the dog sat like a stone between their two car seats. As I whipped around to check on things, I found her staring at me as if awaiting the words, “Turn the car around.”

The kids continued their parade of saccharine names (Lollipop! Tootsie Roll!) until Zoë shouted, “FRIDAY!” and Sophie agreed. “Friday!!” “TGIF!” “Hooray! Friday!” David and I quickly endorsed the name because we liked it, but also because it wasn’t Kit-Kat, which was starting to gain traction.

By the way, it was Saturday.

Friday didn't get off to a great start

When we got home, we introduced Friday to the yard, the house and all of our shampoo. And then we rubbed her dry and plied with her snacks. She ate them with gusto, then vomited.

“That’s okay, Friday!” the kids cried, throwing themselves all over her.

Next up: a walk. Remember the calm walk on the muddy path? She didn’t. She lunged and pulled as if testing our upper body durability.

“What have we done?” my husband swore as she attempted to disconnect his arm.

This What Have We Done theme continued to the following Monday when we took her to our vet for advanced mange management.

“Bad news,” the vet said, “she has two kinds of mange. But you’re lucky; she doesn’t have the kind transmissible to humans.” ( There’s a kind transmissible to humans?)

“What about her teeth?”

“I’m more concerned about this.” She tapped some strange scars. “Cigarette burns,” she said. “And this, here? Probably a knife.”

I felt like vomiting.

We returned home with new mange medicine and heightened worry. David and I had some experience with rescue dogs; we’d raised two and fostered several others. But this felt different — harder. Nevertheless, after all she’d been through, the thought of returning her vanished.

The dog needed us, and we needed her too

We started working with her using our time-tested strategy, Snacks Galore. And maybe it was because she already knew how bad life could get and was not about to tempt a repeat, or because of the snacks, or because she was smart — probably all three — but she quickly learned all the basics (sit, stay, come) then flew past that. Within a few months, she knew countless words, but also specific things like, “Could someone please get Sophie out of bed!” That was usually followed a minute later by Sophie yelling, “Friday, get off me!”

Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

And despite her bad beginning, she didn’t seem to have a mean bone in her body. We had hamsters; she let them rest on her head. We got a rabbit; they became best friends; we vacation-sat our neighbors’ pets — cats, dogs, hedgehogs — she invited them to share her food, bed, and toys. Basically, she was Gandhi.

But she did have one drawback. Remember the smell? Actually, it was more of a stench. Friends would mention it all the time. “Someone needs a bath,” they’d say looking directly at our embarrassed dog. This was after we’d bathed her. We asked our vet to test her for allergies, yeast infections, bacteria. But everything came back clean.

“Some dogs just have body odor,” the vet said, breathing through her mouth.

I bet Gandhi didn’t smell great, either.

Friday wasn't just a pet, she was family

So we accepted it. Because how a dog smells is secondary to how a dog feels, and Friday felt everything — from sensing Zoë’s bad day at school, to picking out the bully on the playground who’d made Sophie cry. Friday never had to witness the hurt to know things had gone south. “Thank god it’s you, Friday,” our teary kids would say as they collapsed into her putrid fur.

And that was life with Friday for years and years. Until the worst happened: our kids grew up and went to college.

Still, they’d call all the time. “TGIF!” they’d shout across the phone lines.

“TGIF!” they’d scream at Christmas when she was back in their arms.

“TGIF,” David and I would say to each other whenever we missed our kids.

And Friday would stare back at us as if to say: I told you not to let them go.

But then came that awful day, 13 years later, when we finally had to let her go. Once again, I felt ill. But this time it was because I realized had we not listened to our kids, there wouldn’t have been a Friday at all. And I couldn’t imagine a life like that. Even though I was about to live it.

As we held her one last time, our noses buried in her neck, we clipped a bit of her fur and put it in a box. So we’d always be able to smell her.

Then Friday slipped away, departing just as she’d arrived. Quietly.

On a Saturday.

Bonnie Garmus's new book, Lessons in Chemistry , is now available from your favorite bookseller. This essay is part of a series highlighting the Good Housekeeping Book Club — you can join the conversation and check out more of our favorite book recommendations .

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Search form, 10 reasons to adopt a shelter dog.

Deciding to adopt a rescue pet or shelter dog is an important decision. It can be tough to take into account everything you’ll need to be prepared for (both expected and unexpected), but the rewards of adopting a four-legged friend outweigh most concerns and fears many people have concerning adoption. Still not convinced? See our top 10 reasons to adopt: 

1. You’re Saving More Than One Life 

It goes without saying that when you adopt a rescue pet, you’re saving a life—but you’re actually saving more than one. By adopting, you’re helping make space for another animal in need and helping to give them the opportunity to become beloved pets. 

2. Unconditional Love! What Could Be Better? 

Many people worry about connecting with a rescued dog, but shelter dogs have so much love to give—and they won’t ever stop giving it to you once you let them into your heart!

3. You’re Giving a Second Chance to a Deserving Animal 

Beyond just helping an animal in need, you’re giving a rescue an opportunity to find their voice; to be themselves and get a second chance to become a dog beyond the walls of shelter or rescue. You truly give them the keys to start anew in a life where second chances can often be hard to come by. 

4.  You Get a Chance to Stay Active

Maybe you’re trying to live a more active lifestyle, or maybe you’re just looking for a new adventure. Either way, a new four-legged friend gives you a reason to get outdoors more and stretch your legs!

5.  You Have Someone New to Shop For 

It’s always fun to spoil your pets and bringing home a new furry family member gives you a reason to do just that. You can enjoy all the retail therapy you want while making sure your new rescue dog is living in the lap of luxury.

6. You’re Fighting Back Against  Cruel Breeding

Puppies purchased at pet stores almost always come from cruel breeding facilities where dogs are confined to small, filthy spaces and receive little to no veterinary care. By adopting from your local shelter or rescue, you are giving back to your community instead of helping cruel breeders profit. 

7. Destress and Unwind with Someone Who Will Never Judge You

Life is full of stresses, but your rescue dog is always there to listen. They won’t ever judge you or let you down. Taking some time to destress with your furry friends can help you unwind and keep you at peace. 

8. Increase Your Social Interactions

Getting out there with your pet can also help you make new human friends, too! You can befriend other pet parents, or even meet someone special when you’re making the rounds at your local dog park or dog-friendly café. 

9. You’ll Have a Lifelong BFF

What could be better than having a lifelong friend? In your time with your rescue dog, you’ll have a confidante, a pal and ultimately—a beloved family member. You’ll never feel lonely, and in return neither will your shelter dog.

10. Life Will Never Be Boring Again

One thing that’s for certain, is that life with a rescue dog brings big changes—in the best way! Say goodbye to predictable nights and your boring routine and say hello to a new lease on life. Your new pet will keep life exciting, fresh and full of love. 

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and as we honor this month, we encourage everyone to open their minds and hearts to shelter dogs in need. Even if you are unable to officially adopt, there may be something you can do at your local shelter or rescue to help animals in need.

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Why Dogs are the Best Pets: Exploting Persuasive Arguments

Table of contents, unconditional love and loyalty, stress relief and emotional support, encouragement of physical activity, enhanced social interactions, protection and security.

• Odendaal, J. S. (2000). Animal-assisted therapy—Magic or medicine? Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49(4), 275-280.
• Anderson, W. P., & Reid, C. M. (1992). The short-term effects of pet therapy on the elderly. Gerontology, 38(6), 307-310.
• Wood, L., Martin, K., Christian, H., Nathan, A., Lauritsen, C., Houghton, S., ... & McCune, S. (2015). The pet factor—Companion animals as a conduit for getting to know people, friendship formation and social support. PLoS ONE, 10(4), e0122085.
• Wells, D. L. (2009). The effects of animals on human health and well-being. Journal of Social Issues, 65(3), 523-543.
• Nagasawa, M., Mogi, K., & Kikusui, T. (2009). Attachment between humans and dogs. Japanese Psychological Research, 51(3), 209-221.

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To Learn Persuasive Writing, These Students Wrote “Why You Should Adopt Me” Essays for Shelter Pets

The real-world connection made this project so engaging.

Authentic, real-world applications in the classroom keep students engaged and excited! Coming across a lesson that can truly make a difference and tie into a great cause is a huge win. Teacher Amy McKinney from Pennsylvania partnered with a local animal shelter for a persuasive-writing assignment with her third graders. Each student wrote about an adoptable pet and even drew an adorable photo! The goal was to help pets find their forever homes while students practiced their writing skills (and have a little fun, of course). The shelter is displaying these awesome write-ups with the adoptable pets and also shared them on their social media.

Take a look at this partnership:

McKinney’s daughter works with a local animal shelter, making the partnership a no-brainer. For other teachers looking to start a project like this, McKinney said, “I recommend that they reach out to animal shelters in their area. I’m sure they would love the opportunity to work with elementary students to help find homes for their pets!”

Authentic experiences increase student engagement.

McKinney shared the project on her Instagram and noted, “My students’ engagement was tremendous! They knew the work they were doing would make a huge difference in a pet’s life, so what normally takes us a couple of weeks to do, we completed in just days.”

The project was a huge success and McKinney told us both she and the animal shelter hope to continue this as an ongoing project. It keeps students engaged in the lesson while benefiting animals in need of a home.

Would your students enjoy this persuasive-writing project? Let us know in the comments.

For more teaching ideas like this, subscribe to our newsletters., you might also like.

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Why Do You Want to Adopt a Dog? 7 Great Sample Answers

If you’re an animal lover, then you know the joy of having a furry friend. Dogs, in particular, are popular pets because of their loyalty, playfulness, and companionship. But with great joy comes great responsibility, and dog adoption is no exception. Before you take the plunge and add a canine companion to your life, you need to be ready for the commitment and understand why you want to adopt a dog.

You’ll likely face the question, “Why do you want to adopt a dog?” if you’re considering adopting a dog from a shelter. Your response should demonstrate your knowledge of dogs, your motivation for adopting, and your suitability as a pet parent. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to help you craft the perfect “Why do you want to adopt a dog? interview question” that will showcase your love for dogs and your readiness to care for them.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Owning a Dog

Before diving into why people want to adopt a dog, let’s take a moment to explore some of the benefits of owning a dog. Studies have shown that owning a dog can:

• Reduce stress and anxiety.
• Increase physical activity.
• Improve heart health.
• Boost social interaction and feelings of happiness.
• Provide a sense of purpose and companionship.

20 Dog Bather Interview Questions and Answers

Understanding the “Why Do You Want to Adopt a Dog?” Interview Question

The “Why do you want to adopt a dog?” interview question assesses your motivation for adopting a dog and your suitability as a pet parent. The interviewer wants to know if you’ve thought carefully about your decision to adopt and know the responsibilities of owning a dog. Your answer will determine if you’re a good fit for the organization and ready to provide a loving home for a needy dog.

When answering this question, it’s important to remember that adopting a dog is a serious commitment. Dogs require attention, care, and patience, and their needs can vary depending on their breed, size, and temperament. Your answer should show that you’re prepared to meet these needs and understand dog ownership’s challenges and rewards.

How to Craft the Perfect “Why Do You Want to Adopt a Dog?” Interview Question

Crafting the perfect “Why do you want to adopt a dog answer? interview question” requires some preparation and a deep understanding of your motivations for adopting. Here are some steps to help you nail the question:

• Research and learn about dogs:  Before you adopt a dog, you need to know what you’re getting into. Please read up on different breeds, their temperaments, and their care requirements. This will show that you know about dogs and understand the responsibilities of dog ownership.
• Reflect on your motivations:  Why do you want to adopt a dog? Is it for companionship, exercise, or as a family pet? Think about your lifestyle and how a dog would fit into it. This will show that you’ve thought carefully about your decision and are ready to commit to a dog.
• Showcase your love for dogs:  Dogs are lovable creatures, and your answer should reflect your affection. Talk about how much you enjoy spending time with dogs and how you’ve interacted with them in the past. This will show that you’re passionate about dogs and that you’ll provide a loving home for your adopted dog.
• Highlight your suitability as a pet parent:  Adopting a dog requires more than just love and affection. You need to be able to provide a safe and comfortable home for your dog, as well as food, water, regular exercise, and medical care. Talk about how you plan to provide for your dog’s basic needs and how you’ll address any behavioral or health issues that may arise. This will show that you’re responsible and committed to being a good pet parent.
• Be honest:  Honesty is always the best policy. If you’re adopting a dog to overcome loneliness or as a substitute for a failed relationship, it’s best, to be honest about it. However, you should also emphasize how you’re ready to provide a loving home and be a responsible pet owner. This will show that you’re self-aware and that you’re willing to take on the challenges of dog ownership.

7 good answers to the “Why Do You Want to Adopt a Dog?” interview question:

• I’ve always been an animal lover, and adopting a dog is a great way to impact the world positively. By providing a loving home to a dog in need, I can give them a second chance at life and contribute to the welfare of animals in our community.
• As a parent, owning a dog can teach children important values such as responsibility, empathy, and the importance of caring for others. I’m excited to provide my family with a new furry member and create lasting memories together.
• I’m active, and adopting a dog would be a great way to incorporate more exercise and outdoor activities into my life. Whether it’s going for a run, hiking, or playing fetch in the park, I’m excited to have a companion who will motivate me to be more active and healthy.
• I’m a responsible and caring person, and adopting a dog would be a great way to put my values into action. I’m ready to provide a loving home, regular exercise, and medical care to my dog, and I’m committed to being a responsible pet owner who puts my dog’s needs first.
• I’ve done my research, and adopting a dog would be a great fit for my lifestyle and personality. I’ve read books, talked to experts, and visited animal shelters to learn more about dog ownership, and I’m confident that I have the knowledge, skills, and resources to provide a loving and responsible home for a dog in need.
• I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression in the past, and I believe that owning a dog can provide me with the emotional support and companionship I need to maintain a positive outlook on life. I’m excited to give a dog a loving home and benefit from their positive impact on my mental health.
• As someone who supports animal welfare causes, I feel that adopting a dog from a shelter is a great way to make a difference and save a life. I’m excited to provide a loving home and give a dog a second chance at happiness.

Why do you want to adopt a dog? The interview question is crucial to determining your suitability as a pet parent and your fit for an animal shelter or rescue organization. Crafting the perfect answer requires preparation, reflection, and honesty. By showcasing your knowledge, passion, and suitability as a pet parent, you can impress the interviewer and demonstrate your readiness to provide a loving home for a needy dog.

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Reasons for Pet Adoption

• Pet Adoption Resources
• Puppy Mills

Pet adoption is a lifesaving and heart-expanding endeavor. And there are so many rewards of adopting a pet, including saving the life of a homeless pet and providing them with love and companionship, addressing community issues such as cat and dog overpopulation, and making room for shelters and rescue groups to save more pets.

When you adopt a pet , you are also doing your part to put an end to puppy mills and other inhumane breeding practices where animals often live in cramped conditions without much quality of life. Backyard breeders and pet mills are notorious for overbreeding dogs. And some cat breeders have also been found to have mill-like conditions, where adult animals are bred over and over for the sole purpose of churning out pets for sale.

Adopting a pet can also positively impact a person’s life, and the physical and mental health benefits of having a pet are worth noting. More exercise, play, and outdoor time can improve a person’s mood and increase their socialization as they meet other people (and pets) on daily walks. In addition, an increase in exercise through daily walking can improve physical fitness and health conditions. Plus, a pet can provide friendship and companionship that can help with loneliness and depression.

If you can’t adopt a pet right now, you can still reap these benefits. There are plenty of dogs, cats, and other pets at animal shelters and rescue groups who need daily walks and attention.

As you can see, there are countless reasons for pet adoption — and there are many homeless dogs and cats in shelters and rescue groups across the country who need a loving home. These animals are deserving of our love, attention, and care. And their benefits for us abound as well.

Adopt a Pet

Benefits of adopting vs. buying

When you adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue organization instead of buying a pet, you are providing a home for a pet in need and freeing up space for more animals to be saved. Every day, dogs and cats are killed in America’s shelters simply because they don’t have safe places to call home. That means when you adopt an animal, you are gaining a loving companion and saving a life at the same time.

By adopting a pet, you’re also taking a stand against puppy mills, which are cruel, inhumane factory farms for dogs where quick profits take precedence over the well-being, health, and security of the animals.

Puppy mill dogs live in cramped quarters, and female dogs are bred continuously to produce as many puppies as possible to turn a quick profit for the retail pet trade. Ultimately, the focus is on money and not on the welfare of the animals.

While more and more Americans oppose this inhumane practice, there are still thousands of puppy mills in existence in this country today. Many people don’t realize that when they buy a dog online or from a pet store, that dog might have come from a puppy mill. Adopting a pet is a lifesaving alternative and a wonderful way to protest pet mills and advocate for animals.

Animal adoption has also become more affordable (thanks to reduced fees and free adoption events) and accessible. These days, adoptable animals are easy to find on websites like Petfinder and Adopt a Pet , which feature pets in shelters and rescue groups around the U.S. There are also plenty of other online resources where you can adopt a pet near you , searching from the comfort of your home.

The cost to acquire and care for a dog or cat is worth considering. Buying a pet can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars while adoption is generally cheaper, and there could be additional veterinary costs associated with animals who come from a pet store or breeder. For example, because puppy mills cut corners on health and welfare, dogs purchased from such a facility often end up with health problems.

If you are looking for a specific breed of dog, you don’t have to shop for one. There are breed-specific rescue groups all around the U.S. that specialize in the kind of dog you want whom you can adopt. You can also adopt a purebred dog at a shelter .

Furthermore, many animal shelters and rescue groups spay or neuter their dogs and cats before their adoption, as well as vaccinate and microchip their animals. This can mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in additional savings when you adopt a pet as opposed to buying one.

Pet adoption saves lives, and it frees up space in shelters so more lives can be saved. It is also the more ethical, thoughtful, and caring way to bring a pet into your life.

Benefits of adopting a pet

Pet adoption positively impacts the lives of homeless animals, as well as the people who adopt them.

Adopting an animal often provides new opportunities for social interaction and connection with other people who have pets. It can decrease social isolation and loneliness; improve physical health through exercise, play, and new fitness routines; and improve one’s mental health, emotional stability, and overall sense of well-being thanks to the unconditional love of a companion animal.

A pet can also produce a calming effect on a person. For example, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine , “simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies).”

Moreover, pets can provide value to their family and community as emotional support animals and therapy pets. They can help people with a host of conditions, including diabetes, autism, cancer, and PTSD. And they can visit people at homes, hospitals, nursing homes, care facilities, schools, and throughout the community. In addition, rescuing animals can be a great tool for parents to teach their children about responsibility; animal care; and the necessity for routine healthy nutrition, exercise, and playtime.

A rescued pet can also reduce stress and anxiety . For instance, studies have shown that eye contact with your dog can release oxytocin — known as the love hormone — which can relieve both anxiety and depression.

In a report on the power of pets, the National Institutes of Health said that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that pets can improve overall heart health and reduce the risk of certain heart-related diseases.

A rescued pet also can give a person a renewed sense of purpose and provide them with unconditional love. Dogs and cats are incredible companions, and they really have a positive impact on our overall health and well-being.

Why is shopping for a pet bad?

When people adopt a pet, they are saving a life. When they buy a pet, a homeless pet misses out on the chance at a loving home. And buying pets supports an industry that thrives on disregarding the welfare of animals.

Puppy and kitten mills (which sell to pet stores) are in business to make a profit, so they churn out puppies and kittens as fast as they can. These animals are often in ill health and have problems, such as poor socialization skills due to a lack of human companionship and genetic defects due to inbreeding.

This inhumane breeding and selling of animals through pet stores and in classified ads has been going on for decades. Breeders have also headed online. They sell dogs and cats — born and bred in cruel conditions — through social media channels, in online neighborhood groups, and through online classifieds.

The minimal standards imposed on breeders by the federal government don't promote responsible breeding or ensure healthy puppies and kittens. These government standards also do not address quality of life for the animal; rather, they are about the bare minimum of care. For example, it is perfectly legal for a licensed breeder to own 1,000 or more dogs, keep those dogs confined for the entirety of their lives in small cages, and breed them as often as possible. There are also only a handful of inspectors in each state for all of the state's licensed breeding facilities.

Most puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills, and most websites that sell dogs are selling mill-bred pets. It is also important to note that most of these sites market their pets as being well-bred and lovingly raised. Be alert to ads that list several breeds of dogs for sale. It is also a bad sign if a breeder won't let you come visit the pet so that you can see where the animal lives and how they’ve been raised and cared for.

The best way to safeguard against supporting a puppy or kitten mill is never to buy an animal from a pet store or online and instead adopt a dog or cat from a shelter or animal rescue group. Do note though that some pet stores have dogs and cats who are available for adoption through shelters or rescue groups.

Factors to consider before adopting a pet

Whether you head to your local shelter or a rescue group to adopt a dog, cat, bird, or other animal, think about the kind of pet who will be the best match for you, your family, your lifestyle, and even your energy level and health.

For instance, if you have a lot of time and patience and are willing to dedicate yourself to training a dog, then adopting a puppy might be a good fit. On the other hand, you might consider a more relaxed animal — e.g., an older dog or cat — if you want a slower pace of life. Either way, animal shelters and pet rescue groups have lots of cats, kittens, puppies, dogs, and other animals to choose from.

Adopting a pet is a decision that must be taken seriously. Pets need daily social interaction, play, exercise, training, financial support for vet bills and routine medical care, food, toys, supplies, and even pet-sitting and lodging expenses should you go out of town.

You also need to consider the temperament of the pet and how the animal will get along with other household pets or pets in your community. Some animals need time and training to be well-mannered around people and other pets while others are polite social butterflies. Animal shelters and rescue groups sometimes list their pets’ temperament and activity level on their adoption profiles, which can be helpful information for your search to adopt a pet.

Where you live is also a factor to consider in pet adoption. For instance, if you’re considering a high-energy dog, make sure you have ample space for the dog to run and play and a neighborhood where you can take them for long walks. Low-energy pets who need less activity time might be better suited for smaller spaces.

Advocating for pets

You can advocate for pets and protest puppy mills through a host of puppy mill initiatives from Best Friends Animal Society. We are working to convince pet stores to offer pets for adoption instead of selling mill-bred pets, educate consumers about puppy mills, and create and lobby for humane legislation. Together, we're making an impact and saving lives. You can join us and help bring about a time when every pet can feel safe, happy, and loved.

Why fight the puppy mill problem? More than 1,000 dogs and cats were killed in U.S. shelters every day in 2023, simply because they did not have safe places to call home. One of the most effective and easiest ways a person can help Save Them All is by choosing to adopt a dog or cat instead of purchasing a pet.

When you adopt, you're not only refusing to support puppy mills, but you’re also saving a life and giving an animal in need the second chance he or she deserves.

There are more ways you can help fight puppy mills:

• Learn more about the puppy mill problem, and find the tools and resources to help fight puppy mills.
• Download this flyer about puppy mills to share with your friends, family, and other people, and encourage them to adopt their next furry friend.
• Make a gift to Best Friends Animal Society to be part of our efforts to end puppy mills.

Advocate for Homeless Pets

Adopt a pet and save a life

We have all heard stories from people who say their adopted pet actually rescued them. An adopted animal is often the very best kind of pet, and animal adoption brings so many mental, physical, and emotional benefits into our lives.

Animal adoption is a lifesaving act that gives pets second chances and happy homes. Last year alone, 415,000 dogs and cats were killed in our nation's shelters just because they didn’t have safe places to call home. But it doesn't have to be that way. An estimated 17 million people will add a new pet to their family this year. If more of them would choose to adopt a pet instead of buying one, we could bring every community across this country to no-kill.

Whether you adopt a dog or cat from your municipal shelter or an animal rescue group, there are so many animals of all sizes, breeds, types, and ages in need of a loving home. You can also help curtail animal overpopulation issues in your community and the killing of animals in shelters when you adopt a pet instead of buying a pet. Animal adoption also means addressing issues related to puppy mills and inhumane breeding facilities.

By saying no to shopping for a pet and saying yes to animal adoption, you’re giving a voice to animals in need around the U.S., and you're being part of the incredible movement to Save Them All .

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Animal Behavior

The psychological and physical benefits of having a pet, pets can improve our health and well-being..

Posted October 26, 2020 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

Pets are an essential part of our psychological toolkit and a great source of comfort. The experience of spending time with an animal is beneficial in the context of your overall health and well-being.

Petting, holding, or cuddling an animal increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine in our bodies, which are feel-good, calming brain chemicals. As a result of these positive chemical changes, our feelings of depression and loneliness may be reduced while our self-esteem and happiness may increase. Interacting with pets can serve to reduce your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and decrease the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. High levels of cortisol can cause the buildup of plaque in the arteries of your heart; this can lead to a heart attack. Even just watching fish swimming around in an aquarium can be a calming and relaxing experience.

Studies have shown that owning a pet may reduce the symptoms of depression, provide a sense of purpose, increase self-confidence , and provide comfort to their owners. Seniors who are depressed or lonely benefit greatly from having a pet to care for and love; it makes them feel needed, which promotes self-confidence and self-esteem. Pets also provide structure and routine to daily life because they require regular care and feeding. Our pets are a welcome sight when we return home following a long or stressful day. Dogs, especially, are palpably happy to see you when you’ve been away.

Dog ownership is immensely therapeutic. A dog requires daily walks; this means that their owners, too, experience fresh air and exercise on a daily basis, thus lowering their risk of succumbing to heart disease. Dog walking also decreases the extent to which humans can isolate themselves. While out and about, walking our dogs, we encounter numerous opportunities to strike up conversations with people whom we might otherwise have never met. People often pass each other on the street without saying a word — but having a dog present is a natural conversation-starter.

Some dogs can sense when you, their owner — their family — are sad or unhappy. They will often respond by nudging you with their paw or head — or they’ll simply sit by your side to let you know that they’re there. Children often prefer to confide their feelings to a pet rather than an adult. Law students who are anxious and stressed before exams have benefited significantly from visits to their schools by therapy dogs.

Many law schools are now allowing therapy dogs onto their campuses to alleviate the pressure of exams among their students. Certified therapy dogs are brought in by their owners, and the students are allowed to pet the dogs and sit with them. The experience of doing so offers students a welcome diversion from their studies and eases their levels of stress, anxiety , and tension. Therapy dogs have, likewise, become part of children’s library reading programs and also provide comfort to people who are in or who work in nursing homes, hospitals, and funeral homes.

Any animal can be a source of social support. Just having another living being whom you can talk to, hug, love — and who needs you — can alleviate feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Dogs and cats are great sources of comfort and companionship. However, if you are allergic to dogs or cats — or if you don’t want or are not in a position to be able to fulfill the commitment of owning one — then an aquarium is an excellent choice. Aquariums are inexpensive and are relatively low-maintenance. The sound of the filter can also be relaxing, as well as the experience of watching the fish while they swim.

Louise B. Miller, Ph.D., is an Integrative Mental Health Specialist in Southern California. She is the author of Psychological First Aid: Removing the Stigma & Reframing the Way We Think about Mental Illness.

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Adopting a Pet from the Pound

Student model print.

This model is based on an essay submitted by fourth-grader Kristyn. She clearly states her opinion in the first paragraph. Then she shares a supporting reason in each of the middle paragraphs.

Owning a pet from the pound or Animal Rescue League has many advantages. First of all, a child feels good about rescuing an abandoned or abused animal and giving it a whole new life. Besides, if the animals from the pound aren’t adopted right away, they might be put to sleep. Having a pet also means lots of responsibilities. A child has to feed, clean up after, brush, and exercise the pet.

Another great advantage of having a pet from the pound is the price of these cute and cuddly animals. Pets from the pound cost a lot less than pets at a fancy pet store, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

Once you adopt a pet from the Animal Rescue League, it will quickly become a part of your family. If you are thinking of adopting a pet, you might consider choosing a dog or a cat. Dogs and cats can bring lots of happy times to a family, and they can be excellent companions for a person who lives alone or someone who has lost a loved one. Dogs are also a wonderful source of protection. Cats are funny, and they may help to calm people down when they are sad or mad.

Please consider adopting an animal. If you remember all of the advantages of adopting a pet from the pound, you might find the bird, mouse, hamster, dog, or cat of your choice.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Adoption — Persuasive Speech On Adopting Animals

Persuasive Speech on Adopting Animals

• Categories: Adoption

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Published: Mar 6, 2024

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You can adopt a dog for free in June at local shelters. What to know

Two local animal shelters are offering free dog adoptions this month as they each face overcrowding and capacity concerns.

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is waiving adoption fees for all dogs through June 9 as they fight a capacity crisis. Currently, the center has almost 250 dogs more than its capacity.

With more than 800 dogs in its care, MCACC had to begin splitting kennels between two dogs at one shelter, forcing one to remain outside as temperatures surpass triple digits throughout the county , MCACC communications officer Kim Powell said.

Pima Animal Care Center will hold summer adoption nights every Friday in June from noon to 8:15 p.m., featuring different adoption specials that will be announced on social media, according to a PACC press release on Thursday.

PACC is also offering free adoptions for dogs and puppies, though adult dogs may require a $20 licensing fee, the press release said.

Overcapacity in animal shelters is an ongoing crisis in Maricopa County and across the country, Powell said. She said numbers tend to peak in the summer as holiday fireworks lead to more runaway dogs and summer activities like vacations reduce adoption numbers.

In an effort to open up space in the shelters, BISSELL Pet Foundation is sponsoring MCACC for an Empty the Shelter event, covering adoption costs for all dogs including puppies, which can be up to $150. All adopted dogs are sent home spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, further reducing costs for potential owners.

In addition to its Empty the Shelter event, MCACC launched a “Can’t Commit” campaign for Foster a Pet Month in June. The campaign’s goal is to have 50 dogs in foster homes by the end of the month.

Fostering is a service to both the dog and the shelter, Powell said. Not only does it open kennel space and give dogs a break from shelter life, it provides an opportunity to meet potential families.

“If people are considering fostering, we really want to encourage them to help us find a home,” Powell said. “We do have outside adoption events at PetSmarts and Petcos and our fosters are allowed to bring their foster dogs to those events and it helps get the dog seen.”

Where can I adopt a dog for free?

MCACC’s Empty the Shelter event is taking place at three locations through June 9. Dogs and puppies can be adopted without fees at the West Shelter located at 2500 S 27th Avenue or the East Shelter located at 1920 S Lewis Drive.

The Maricopa County shelter also released 44 dogs to Heidi’s Village on June 6. Potential adoptees can go to Heidi’s, located at 600 N 40th Street, and ask to meet a Maricopa County dog.

PACC’s summer adoption nights and free dog adoptions are located at 4000 N. Silverbell Road.

How do I adopt a dog?

After going to one of MCACC’s three free adoption locations, potential adoptees can walk through the kennels to meet the available dogs. All they need to do to adopt is take a picture of the dog and its kennel card and head to the front desk, Powell said.

Dogs that are already spayed or neutered can go home with families the same day, Powell said.

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A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again

Kristie Pereira and her dog Beau pose for a photo in Laurel, Md., in January 2023. Pereira is seeking answers after the sick dog she took to a shelter to have euthanized turned up more than a year later on a rescue adoption site. (Kristie Pereira via AP)

The Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation signage is displayed on its building in Falls Church, Va. Friday, May 24, 2024. A woman is seeking answers after the sick dog she took to the foundation to have euthanized turned up more than a year later on a rescue adoption site. (AP Photo/Matthew Barakat)

Beau poses for a photo in Laurel, Md., in January 2023. Kristie Pereira is seeking answers after the sick dog she took to a shelter to have euthanized turned up more than a year later on a rescue adoption site. (Kristie Pereira via AP)

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Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.

So she was stunned last week to find the dog up for adoption at the same pet rescue organization where she had gotten it.

“I have a lot of questions, but first and foremost, I want him back with me,” Pereira told The Associated Press on Friday.

Pereira, who now lives in San Antonio, said she was working from home in Maryland when she paid $450 in late 2022 to adopt a 2-month-old hound mix from a local group, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation.

She named the puppy Beau, and the two quickly became inseparable. Beau snuggled next to her as she worked, slept in her bed and even tagged along with her when Pereira would leave the house. But within weeks, it became clear something was wrong with the puppy, Pereira said.

A veterinarian concluded that the issue was most likely neurological. Blood tests did show the dog might have a liver problem, so Pereira was sent home with liver enzymes and told that she would “see improvement pretty fast” if Beau’s liver was the issue.

The dog’s condition only worsened. The dog’s veterinarian, the clinic’s lead veterinarian and an animal emergency room veterinarian all agreed the dog’s inability to control his bowels and lift his hind legs pointed to a severe neurological problem, Pereira said.

The cost to run a series of tests to find out, she said, was quoted as high as $12,000. Despite the sticker shock, Pereira, 32, who works in digital marketing, said she would have found a way to pay it if it would save Beau.

Instead, she was told “there’s a very slim chance of finding what is wrong,” she recalled. “And even if we do, there’s an even smaller chance of it being something that we can fix.”

That is when they began suggesting that it might be more humane to euthanize the puppy. She wasn’t ready to consider that option, she said, and held out for another month.

Throughout all of it, Pereira said, she was consulting staff at Lost Dog & Cat Rescue.

“Honestly, I mean, after I talked to them is really when I felt, you know, that I was going to be doing the right thing by putting him down,” Pereira said. “They really gave me that support and that encouragement that, although it’s hard, sometimes that’s the best thing to do.”

Following several sleepless nights with Beau clearly in pain, Pereira said she took Beau to Montgomery County Animal Services in Derwood, Maryland, in late March 2023 and paid $15 for him to be euthanized. She was told that the shelter’s policy does not allow people to stay with their pets as they are put down.

It was during a visit to see her mother in Maryland last week that curiosity sent her to the rescue’s website to check out dogs up for adoption — and spotted Beau’s picture. The puppy was bigger but had the same markings and bore the name the rescue had given him before she adopted him: Amos Hart, based on a character in the musical “Chicago.”

Calls to the shelter confirmed that her dog had not been euthanized after veterinarians there didn’t think he needed to be. The shelter instead called Lost Dog & Cat Rescue and turned the puppy back over to them.

The rescue confirmed that Friday in a written statement, giving an extensive timeline showing that its veterinarians found no neurological issues with the dog. After tests diagnosing a liver problem and a $7,000 surgery — paid for through a GoFundMe campaign — the dog was declared healthy.

None of it was shared with Pereira, who said Friday she would pay the $7,000 cost to get Beau back. It took several days for anyone at the rescue to return her calls, she said, and when they did, it was not anyone Pereira had talked with before.

“The person that called me was so rude and just disrespectful and just being really nasty towards me,” she said, breaking down in tears. “Just saying, you know, that I abandoned him, and that I left him to die. That I never cared about him.”

Pereira was told that the dog “will never go back to you.” Then the person hung up.

Rescue spokesperson Chloe Floyd would not answer questions about whether someone at the rescue said those things to Pereira. But she defended the decision not to return the dog.

“LDCRF does not re-home an owner-surrendered dog with its former adopter/owner,” Floyd said in her written statement. “Our mission is to save adoptable and safe-to-the-community dogs from euthanasia.”

The rescue acknowledged that it had spoken to Pereira during her deliberation about whether to euthanize the puppy, but it said it had made clear to her the importance of taking the dog to a veterinarian that would allow her to be with the animal when it was euthanized. If she could not do that, it emphasized, the rescue would take the dog back.

The rescue and the shelter both faulted Pereira for not consenting to the extensive testing to see if it was suffering neurological issues.

Caroline Hairfield, executive director of Montgomery County Animal Services, said that it is bound by contract to return surrendered animals back to the rescue and that its hands are tied.

Hairfield said of Pereira that “everyone feels for her,” but that it’s up to the rescue on whether it will return the dog to her.

“That’s a civil issue between the two of them,” she said. “We haven’t had the animal in our care for a year.”

The dog remained available for adoption Friday on the rescue’s website.

Meet the North Jersey adoptable pets of the week: Max, Hercules, Pawley, and Lindy

Meet NorthJersey.com's adoptable pets of the week for June 7!

Each week, NorthJersey.com would like to highlight adoptable animals from local shelters and rescues .

If you foster, work at, or volunteer with a North Jersey animal shelter or rescue and know of some animals who are in need of a loving fur-ever home, please send a photo, description, and adoption information to [email protected] to have your adoptable pet featured in the next edition.

This week we are featuring Max, Hercules, Pawley, and Lindy from the Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society (BASS) in Ringwood.

Coming in at 40 pounds, Max is a 1-and-a-half-year-old boxer mix who will do anything for a cookie.

Max can be timid at first but is very affectionate and loves to get pets and kisses. He seems to get along with other dogs of similar size but would also be okay being the only pet in the house.

Max has been at the shelter for far too long as he can be a bit mouthy. However, he does not bite and when firmly told to stop he stops. He has also been at the shelter long enough that some of that behavior is decreasing as he gets older. He is excellent in the car and a much calmer dog when not at the shelter so he would greatly benefit from adoption.

Max can be found on the BASS website at bassshelterpets.org or at his Petfinder profile at petfinder.com/dog/max-65595675/nj/bloomingdale/bloomingdale-regional-animal-shelter-society-nj28/ .

You can visit the shelter any day at 260 Margaret King Ave. in Ringwood from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.

Hercules is a 60 pound, 5-year-old shepherd mix. Hercules was living a happy life in a home with wonderful parents until one tragic day a fatal car accident left him homeless. He was temporarily taken in by a family friend and got along well with her dog, but she was not able to keep him long term and he eventually found his way to BASS.

Even though Hercules misses the love and attention of being part of a family, he has been a good, sweet boy who loves to run in the yard, chase birds, and get as many hugs and pets as he can from the volunteers. Due to his size, he would be better in a home with older kids and definitely no cats.

Hercules can be found on the BASS website or on Petfinder at petfinder.com/dog/hercules-70078344/nj/bloomingdale/bloomingdale-regional-animal-shelter-society-nj28/ .

Lindy is a 25 pound, 2-year-old terrier mix. She is a little energizer bunny who is very food motivated and learns quickly with mini–Milk Bones.

Lindy loves people, pets, and her toys, especially balls you can throw with her. She would benefit with an active and experienced dog owner as she can play all day long.

Unfortunately, she is not that fond of other dogs and should be the only pet in the home.

Lindy can be found on the BASS website or on Petfinder at petfinder.com/dog/lindy-69462425/nj/bloomingdale-regional-animal-shelter-society-nj28/.

Pawley is a dalmatian and terrier mix. He is about 1-and-a-half years old and weighs in at around 32 pounds. Pawley was picked up as a stray in a downtown area of Kentucky and nobody came to reclaim him.

He is so sweet and cute, learns quickly for treats, and has perfected "sit" and "place." He is working on other skills as well.

Pawley is very high energy and can be mouthy when excited. Therefore, he can only be in a house of adults and older kids. He would benefit from an experienced owner who would take the time to understand him. He is a sweetheart that loves to be cuddled and pet and boy does he love his rope toys!

Pawley can be found on the BASS website or on Petfinder at petfinder.com/dog/pawley-58767363/nj/bloomingdale/bloomingdale-regional-animal-shelter-society-nj28/ .

Pets of the week: A Cane Corso mix dog and two kittens are up for adoption in Lane County

Greenhill Humane Society

Tractor may have a big head and pig paws, but he has an even bigger heart. He is a 4-year-old Cane Corso mix who has been on a weight loss journey and has lost more than 40 pounds since arriving at the shelter.

He is described as extremely affectionate and gives the best slobbery kisses. Tractor is looking to be the king of his new castle and for his new family to help him reach his new weight loss goal.

Tractor enjoys short walks outside and playing with toys. To set him up for success in his new home, Tractor will go home with a large, soft bed, a ramp and stairs, a bag of food, toys, and his favorite sweater.

Greenhill Humane Society is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 88530 Green Hill Road in Eugene. For more information call (541) 689.1503 or visit www.green-hill.org .

Oregon Coast Humane Society

Baby is one of dozens of kittens arriving at the shelter now that "Kitten Season" has officially begun. She and her sister Princess are currently in foster care and will be available soon for homes of their own.

Both cats live with other cats and a dog, so they would be the perfect addition to any family.

To meet Baby and other kittens, stop by the shelter at 2840 Rhododendron Drive in Florence, or apply online at oregoncoasthumanesociety.org. Shelter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Cat Rescue and Adoption Network

Susan is a petite brown tabby cat who is nearly 1 year old. She is looking for a forever family to give her a safe and loving home.

She is very affectionate and loves to be cuddled. Susan also gets along well with other cats but would also be fine as an only cat in a home where she can get lots of attention.

Susan has been spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and is negative for FIV and FeLV.

To meet Susan at Petsmart cattery on 28 th & Willamette in South Eugene, please call 541-225-4955 option 1, or visit CatRescues.org  for more info.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at  [email protected] .

Walnut and Me

By Sam Anderson Illustrations by Gaia Alari

Listen to Episode 1 of the series, where Sam Anderson explains his love for his dog, Walnut. Find all episodes of ‘Animal’ at nytimes.com/animal .

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

Photo credit: Ryan Carll/Upstate Images

Sam Anderson is a staff writer for the magazine. He has written about rhinos, pencils, poets, water parks, basketball, weight loss and the fountain of youth.

Gaia Alari is a self-taught illustrator and animator, specializing in a traditional frame-by-frame style of hand animation.

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Ibram X. Kendi’s Reckoning : In 2020, the author of “How to Be an Antiracist” galvanized Americans with his ideas. The past four years have tested them  — and him.

The Man Always in College : Benjamin Bolger has spent his whole life amassing academic degrees. What can we learn from him ?

Richard Linklater’s Killer Instinct : The director’s latest movie, “Hit Man,” manages to sneak in a provocative exploration of one of his pet themes: the nature and malleability of personal identity .

Walnut and Me : What can we gain by looking another animal in the eye? The writer Sam Anderson searches for an answer  in this essay adapted from his podcast series .

The Battle Over College Speech : For the first time since the Vietnam War, university demonstrations have led to a rethinking  of who sets the terms for language in academia.

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Should you include pets in your will? Pet trusts can help plan for your dog or cat's future.

If something happens to you, what happens to your dog or cat pet trusts can protect your furry friends..

Creating an estate plan to leave assets to loved ones is something that many people do every day. But what if your loved ones are your pets?

Tampa resident Nancy Sauer, 84, passed away leaving her $2.5-million-dollar home and remaining estate to her seven Persian cats . Nancy wanted to do what she could to create a plan that would allow her cats to continue to live with one another and be cared for. After her passing in November, the seven cats spent six months in her home, taken care of by someone who stopped by the house a few times daily. 

While this may have worked temporarily, a Hillsborough County judge felt that they should be rehomed to receive proper care. The cats are now in the custody of the Humane Society of Tampa and are awaiting adoption. The cats’ names are Cleopatra, Goldfinger, Leo, Midnight, Napoleon, Snowball, and Squeaky. The Humane Society of Tampa will do their best to honor the wishes of the late Nancy Sauer when rehoming her cats. Once the cats are rehomed, each new family will have access to the inheritance left to cover the cost of living for each cat; this includes vet bills, grooming, and food.

While many pet owners may feel leaving a mansion and large inheritance to their pet is unnecessary, some may still want to ensure their pets are cared for after they pass. Luckily for those people, there are options available to choose from.

Pet-friendly offices are on the rise: Pets are our companions at home. More employers are welcoming them at work, too.

If an owner is set on leaving assets (either monetary or physical) to their beloved pet, a pet trust can be the best option. Florida Statute 736.0408 makes this type of trust possible by outlining the rules when creating a pet trust. An owner can choose a guardian for the pet, add money into the trust for the continued care of a pet, and leave instructions on how the pet should be cared for. This type of trust can only include animals that are alive during an owner’s lifetime, so any offspring of your pets will not be covered, and the trust will be terminated when the last pet included dies.

How do you set up a pet trust?

Some tips to think about while creating a Pet Trust:

➤ Assess how much money your pet needs. You should plan to cover all vet bills, grooming, and food. By determining how much your pet will need after you pass, it will help ensure other heirs or beneficiaries do not contest.

➤ Instructions for care of a pet. By outlining a basic daily schedule, it will ensure a smooth transition of the pet being in your care to someone else. This is also a suitable place to detail the pet’s personality for the guardian.

How old is your cat in human years? Probably older than you think

➤ “Last Resort” guardian. While choosing family or a friend may be the preferred option for many pet owners, it is a good idea to add a pet rescue or foundation for worst case scenarios. This will give you peace of mind that your pet will be cared for no matter the circumstances.

Another option for an owner is leaving their pet to a trusted individual in a will or living trust. Although it may be the easiest way to leave a pet to another person, this person will have no legal obligation to care for the pet or spend money left behind on the pet. The person chosen, with this intention in mind, must be a very trusted individual if an owner wants to ensure the care of a pet.

The final option available for pet owners is researching charitable programs that will either care for or rehome the pet. Depending on the needs of your pet or charity chosen, a donation may be required. This option is great to continue the care of a pet without designating a an individuals as a guardian or leaving assets. Generally, a local humane society, such as the Brevard Humane Society, is a great place to start when looking into where to leave your pet.

Whether you are only considering, or you have decided that you want to create an estate plan that includes your beloved pet, contact a trusted estate planning attorney to receive all the information you will need to start this process.

Stephen J. Lacey, JD, LLM, is a member of the law firm Lacey Lyons Rezanka in Brevard County, Florida. His practice areas focus on estate planning and probate. This column was first published in Florida Today .

The state of AI in early 2024: Gen AI adoption spikes and starts to generate value

If 2023 was the year the world discovered generative AI (gen AI) , 2024 is the year organizations truly began using—and deriving business value from—this new technology. In the latest McKinsey Global Survey  on AI, 65 percent of respondents report that their organizations are regularly using gen AI, nearly double the percentage from our previous survey just ten months ago. Respondents’ expectations for gen AI’s impact remain as high as they were last year , with three-quarters predicting that gen AI will lead to significant or disruptive change in their industries in the years ahead.

About the authors

This article is a collaborative effort by Alex Singla , Alexander Sukharevsky , Lareina Yee , and Michael Chui , with Bryce Hall , representing views from QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, and McKinsey Digital.

Organizations are already seeing material benefits from gen AI use, reporting both cost decreases and revenue jumps in the business units deploying the technology. The survey also provides insights into the kinds of risks presented by gen AI—most notably, inaccuracy—as well as the emerging practices of top performers to mitigate those challenges and capture value.

AI adoption surges

Interest in generative AI has also brightened the spotlight on a broader set of AI capabilities. For the past six years, AI adoption by respondents’ organizations has hovered at about 50 percent. This year, the survey finds that adoption has jumped to 72 percent (Exhibit 1). And the interest is truly global in scope. Our 2023 survey found that AI adoption did not reach 66 percent in any region; however, this year more than two-thirds of respondents in nearly every region say their organizations are using AI. 1 Organizations based in Central and South America are the exception, with 58 percent of respondents working for organizations based in Central and South America reporting AI adoption. Looking by industry, the biggest increase in adoption can be found in professional services. 2 Includes respondents working for organizations focused on human resources, legal services, management consulting, market research, R&D, tax preparation, and training.

Also, responses suggest that companies are now using AI in more parts of the business. Half of respondents say their organizations have adopted AI in two or more business functions, up from less than a third of respondents in 2023 (Exhibit 2).

Gen AI adoption is most common in the functions where it can create the most value

Most respondents now report that their organizations—and they as individuals—are using gen AI. Sixty-five percent of respondents say their organizations are regularly using gen AI in at least one business function, up from one-third last year. The average organization using gen AI is doing so in two functions, most often in marketing and sales and in product and service development—two functions in which previous research  determined that gen AI adoption could generate the most value 3 “ The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier ,” McKinsey, June 14, 2023. —as well as in IT (Exhibit 3). The biggest increase from 2023 is found in marketing and sales, where reported adoption has more than doubled. Yet across functions, only two use cases, both within marketing and sales, are reported by 15 percent or more of respondents.

Gen AI also is weaving its way into respondents’ personal lives. Compared with 2023, respondents are much more likely to be using gen AI at work and even more likely to be using gen AI both at work and in their personal lives (Exhibit 4). The survey finds upticks in gen AI use across all regions, with the largest increases in Asia–Pacific and Greater China. Respondents at the highest seniority levels, meanwhile, show larger jumps in the use of gen Al tools for work and outside of work compared with their midlevel-management peers. Looking at specific industries, respondents working in energy and materials and in professional services report the largest increase in gen AI use.

Investments in gen AI and analytical AI are beginning to create value

The latest survey also shows how different industries are budgeting for gen AI. Responses suggest that, in many industries, organizations are about equally as likely to be investing more than 5 percent of their digital budgets in gen AI as they are in nongenerative, analytical-AI solutions (Exhibit 5). Yet in most industries, larger shares of respondents report that their organizations spend more than 20 percent on analytical AI than on gen AI. Looking ahead, most respondents—67 percent—expect their organizations to invest more in AI over the next three years.

Where are those investments paying off? For the first time, our latest survey explored the value created by gen AI use by business function. The function in which the largest share of respondents report seeing cost decreases is human resources. Respondents most commonly report meaningful revenue increases (of more than 5 percent) in supply chain and inventory management (Exhibit 6). For analytical AI, respondents most often report seeing cost benefits in service operations—in line with what we found last year —as well as meaningful revenue increases from AI use in marketing and sales.

Inaccuracy: The most recognized and experienced risk of gen AI use

As businesses begin to see the benefits of gen AI, they’re also recognizing the diverse risks associated with the technology. These can range from data management risks such as data privacy, bias, or intellectual property (IP) infringement to model management risks, which tend to focus on inaccurate output or lack of explainability. A third big risk category is security and incorrect use.

Respondents to the latest survey are more likely than they were last year to say their organizations consider inaccuracy and IP infringement to be relevant to their use of gen AI, and about half continue to view cybersecurity as a risk (Exhibit 7).

Conversely, respondents are less likely than they were last year to say their organizations consider workforce and labor displacement to be relevant risks and are not increasing efforts to mitigate them.

In fact, inaccuracy— which can affect use cases across the gen AI value chain , ranging from customer journeys and summarization to coding and creative content—is the only risk that respondents are significantly more likely than last year to say their organizations are actively working to mitigate.

Some organizations have already experienced negative consequences from the use of gen AI, with 44 percent of respondents saying their organizations have experienced at least one consequence (Exhibit 8). Respondents most often report inaccuracy as a risk that has affected their organizations, followed by cybersecurity and explainability.

Our previous research has found that there are several elements of governance that can help in scaling gen AI use responsibly, yet few respondents report having these risk-related practices in place. 4 “ Implementing generative AI with speed and safety ,” McKinsey Quarterly , March 13, 2024. For example, just 18 percent say their organizations have an enterprise-wide council or board with the authority to make decisions involving responsible AI governance, and only one-third say gen AI risk awareness and risk mitigation controls are required skill sets for technical talent.

Bringing gen AI capabilities to bear

The latest survey also sought to understand how, and how quickly, organizations are deploying these new gen AI tools. We have found three archetypes for implementing gen AI solutions : takers use off-the-shelf, publicly available solutions; shapers customize those tools with proprietary data and systems; and makers develop their own foundation models from scratch. 5 “ Technology’s generational moment with generative AI: A CIO and CTO guide ,” McKinsey, July 11, 2023. Across most industries, the survey results suggest that organizations are finding off-the-shelf offerings applicable to their business needs—though many are pursuing opportunities to customize models or even develop their own (Exhibit 9). About half of reported gen AI uses within respondents’ business functions are utilizing off-the-shelf, publicly available models or tools, with little or no customization. Respondents in energy and materials, technology, and media and telecommunications are more likely to report significant customization or tuning of publicly available models or developing their own proprietary models to address specific business needs.

Respondents most often report that their organizations required one to four months from the start of a project to put gen AI into production, though the time it takes varies by business function (Exhibit 10). It also depends upon the approach for acquiring those capabilities. Not surprisingly, reported uses of highly customized or proprietary models are 1.5 times more likely than off-the-shelf, publicly available models to take five months or more to implement.

Gen AI high performers are excelling despite facing challenges

Gen AI is a new technology, and organizations are still early in the journey of pursuing its opportunities and scaling it across functions. So it’s little surprise that only a small subset of respondents (46 out of 876) report that a meaningful share of their organizations’ EBIT can be attributed to their deployment of gen AI. Still, these gen AI leaders are worth examining closely. These, after all, are the early movers, who already attribute more than 10 percent of their organizations’ EBIT to their use of gen AI. Forty-two percent of these high performers say more than 20 percent of their EBIT is attributable to their use of nongenerative, analytical AI, and they span industries and regions—though most are at organizations with less than $1 billion in annual revenue. The AI-related practices at these organizations can offer guidance to those looking to create value from gen AI adoption at their own organizations.

To start, gen AI high performers are using gen AI in more business functions—an average of three functions, while others average two. They, like other organizations, are most likely to use gen AI in marketing and sales and product or service development, but they’re much more likely than others to use gen AI solutions in risk, legal, and compliance; in strategy and corporate finance; and in supply chain and inventory management. They’re more than three times as likely as others to be using gen AI in activities ranging from processing of accounting documents and risk assessment to R&D testing and pricing and promotions. While, overall, about half of reported gen AI applications within business functions are utilizing publicly available models or tools, gen AI high performers are less likely to use those off-the-shelf options than to either implement significantly customized versions of those tools or to develop their own proprietary foundation models.

What else are these high performers doing differently? For one thing, they are paying more attention to gen-AI-related risks. Perhaps because they are further along on their journeys, they are more likely than others to say their organizations have experienced every negative consequence from gen AI we asked about, from cybersecurity and personal privacy to explainability and IP infringement. Given that, they are more likely than others to report that their organizations consider those risks, as well as regulatory compliance, environmental impacts, and political stability, to be relevant to their gen AI use, and they say they take steps to mitigate more risks than others do.

Gen AI high performers are also much more likely to say their organizations follow a set of risk-related best practices (Exhibit 11). For example, they are nearly twice as likely as others to involve the legal function and embed risk reviews early on in the development of gen AI solutions—that is, to “ shift left .” They’re also much more likely than others to employ a wide range of other best practices, from strategy-related practices to those related to scaling.

In addition to experiencing the risks of gen AI adoption, high performers have encountered other challenges that can serve as warnings to others (Exhibit 12). Seventy percent say they have experienced difficulties with data, including defining processes for data governance, developing the ability to quickly integrate data into AI models, and an insufficient amount of training data, highlighting the essential role that data play in capturing value. High performers are also more likely than others to report experiencing challenges with their operating models, such as implementing agile ways of working and effective sprint performance management.

About the research

The online survey was in the field from February 22 to March 5, 2024, and garnered responses from 1,363 participants representing the full range of regions, industries, company sizes, functional specialties, and tenures. Of those respondents, 981 said their organizations had adopted AI in at least one business function, and 878 said their organizations were regularly using gen AI in at least one function. To adjust for differences in response rates, the data are weighted by the contribution of each respondent’s nation to global GDP.

Alex Singla and Alexander Sukharevsky  are global coleaders of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, and senior partners in McKinsey’s Chicago and London offices, respectively; Lareina Yee  is a senior partner in the Bay Area office, where Michael Chui , a McKinsey Global Institute partner, is a partner; and Bryce Hall  is an associate partner in the Washington, DC, office.

They wish to thank Kaitlin Noe, Larry Kanter, Mallika Jhamb, and Shinjini Srivastava for their contributions to this work.

This article was edited by Heather Hanselman, a senior editor in McKinsey’s Atlanta office.

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