When buying a dog or a cat as a pet, not many people consider adoption. Pet stores all over the country have stopped selling cats and dogs from breeders. Big chain pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart now partner with local animal shelters to encourage buyers to adopt shelter animals. This ‘adopt not buy’ policy has been implemented in most pet stores across the country in an effort to give a home to shelter animals.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, there were dog adoptions at the Humane Society of El Paso and El Paso Parks and Rec’s annual Pet Fair. The main purpose of the pet fair was to hold dog adoptions and provide as many of them as possible with homes. Many of the people in attendance took their dogs with them while many others left with a new furry friend.

The Humane Society of El Paso routinely holds events to promote animal adoptions. Every Friday is Feline Fridays, where cat adoptions are only $50. The fee includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations and microchips with national and local registration. The humane society is a non-profit, no-kill shelter.

PetSmart charities surveyed 3,000 people in 2014 and 34 percent of those who had added a pet in the previous 12 months, but chose not to adopt, said they went elsewhere because shelters do not have purebred animals. Of those, 12 percent said they didn’t know much about pet adoption.

Petco always has shelter cats at their stores ready to adopt. Petsmart doesn’t have shelter animals for adoption every day, but every Saturday the HSEP takes cats and dogs to local stores to put up for adoption.

Next time you’re looking to get a pet, consider the benefits of adopting first.

The HSEP is located at 4991 Fred Wilson Ave. and is open every day of the week. You can also adopt cats and dogs at any El Paso Petco or Petsmart store.

For more information, visit https://www.hselpaso.org/.