Dogs and cats of diverse heritage are every bit as loving and loyal as animals who have “papers,” but are significantly less likely to suffer from many of the serious health problems that plague purebreds, such as crippling hip dysplasia, blindness, deafness, heart defects, skin problems and epilepsy.
Adopting a mutt from a shelter also saves a life and avoids supporting the cruel pet industry, which churns out litter after litter of purebred puppies and kittens while millions of equally deserving animals must be euthanized in shelters for lack of good homes.
If you must own a purebred, you can still save a life by searching www.petfinder.com for specific breeds in shelters near you or adopting from a breed rescue group.
If you already own a lucky mutt, why not celebrate Mutts’ Day by throwing him or her a special celebration? For inspiration, check out “Let’s Have a Dog Party!” by Ingrid E. Newkirk (available at www.petacatalog.com). To learn more, visit www.peta.org.
– Contributed by Lindsay Pollard-Post
The PETA Foundation
Feels good to save an animal.