My Project
I created this site to show the truth about shelter overcrowding and why I believe adoption should be everyone's first choice when looking for a new furry friend for their life.
As a shelter volunteer, I have seen too many dogs spend countless days in the shelter and even lose their lives just because people choose designer dogs over rescues. Last year, over 300,000 dogs were euthanized. My mission is to educate my peers on how we can break this cycle together by choosing to adopt rather than supporting harmful breeding.
Shelters are Overcrowded
During my research, I found that our local shelters are facing a massive overpopulation crisis that most people my age never see while scrolling through their social feeds.
Every day, shelters across the country are forced to turn dogs away because they are completely out of space, underfunded, and struggling just to provide basic care.
Over the past 5 years, the length of time dogs are spending in shelters has increased. This extended time limits space for new animals and adds more strain to the ongoing capacity crisis.
The trend of buying 'designer' dogs only makes this worse, pushing more animals into a system that is already busting at the seams.
I want to bring this reality into the light so we can stop ignoring the rescue crisis and start prioritizing the lives of the animals already here.
Some Statistics
• Over 30% of dogs come from breeders, 25% from family/friends, and only 20% from shelters.
• Last year, Alabama was #3 in national shelter euthanasia rates.
• Pitbulls, boxers, and labs are the most common shelter breeds.
Graph curtesy of Rainwalk Pet Insurance
Choosing to Adopt Instead
I know purebreds look cool on TikTok, but there's more to it and adoption is the more ethical choice. It is about saving a life that is already here and waiting for a family to love them. Mixed breeds are just as smart and loyal as any other.
Rescues and mixed breeds are just as affectionate and easy to train.
When you adopt, you give a second chance to a dog that was forgotten.
Adopting is much cheaper than buying, and your new dog often comes fixed and vaccinated.
Your choice to rescue directly lowers the demand for puppy mills.
The Reality of Backyard Breeding
In places like Alabama, weak laws allow people to breed dogs for quick cash.
Profit Over Welfare
Without proper rules, breeders keep producing litters to make money. They don't care about the health of the puppies or where they end up, as long as they get paid, which floods our community with more dogs than we have homes.
Discarded Puppies
When puppies don't sell fast enough, they are often dumped on the street or left at the shelter door. These dogs are treated as worthless inventory the second they stop bringing in a profit.
Suffering Mothers
The most heartbreaking part is the female dogs. They are bred repeatedly with no medical care until their bodies give out, and then they are abandoned because they aren't useful to the breeder anymore.
Health Struggles
Dogs from these untrustworthy sources can have major health or behavior issues because they weren't raised with love or care. New owners end up with huge vet bills and a dog with life long health problems.