My 2nd Essay

You Should Adopt An Animal


Eight million homeless. Four million killed. Millions neglected and starving for

attention. All of them helpless, innocent, and defenseless. This happens year after

year. The victims… Animals.


The following are some reasons that you should adopt an animal. First of all if you adopted an animal from a

shelter, you would be saving a life. Each year eight million cats and dogs are cared for in shelters, half of which

are euthanized. They are euthanized for reasons such as going insane from being in their kennels for to long,

over crowding in shelter and not being able to adopt them out to families after a certain amount of time.

Every year in Utah alone 30,000 cats and dogs are killed in animal shelters. The top three animal killing

counties in Utah for 2005 were Davis County with 21% of the euthanizations, Utah County with 19%, and Salt

Lake County with 18%. St. George Animal Control officer April McManus said the number of euthanized pets in

the state is “ungodly.” and “Some are healthy and completely adoptable animals.” It is a shame that so many

helpless, innocent, and defenseless animals are killed year after year. And what’s worse is that it is legal.


Another reason you should adopt a pet is that they are good for your health. A study at the State University of

New York at Buffalo showed that people with pets had lower blood pressure readings than those without pets.

Another study conducted by UCLA in 1999 found that AIDS patients with pets we more capable of coping with

the stress caused by their illness. But the patients without pets were twice as likely to report signs of

depression. Pet owners also have a higher survival rate after a serious illness, than non pet owners. Two

studies have shown that after a year, heart attack patients with pets are more likely to be alive than those

patients without a pet. Another study conducted at City Hospital in New York found that having a pet

increases the survival rate, even more so than the companionship of a spouse or friend.


Last but certainly not least pets make great companions. They are non judgmental and will love you

unconditionally. They don’t care what race you are, how you dress, or what you look like, they just want to be

loved and cared for. They are very affectionate if treated with love and respect. You can bring them to

nursing homes, teach them tricks, bring them on walks, or just have them sit on your lap while you pet them.


It is definitely a shame that so many helpless, innocent, and defenseless animals are killed legally each year by

no fault of their own. But if you just give a shelter pet a chance not only will you be saving a life, you would be

gaining better health, and a great companion.