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^_^;;

I've gotten my pets from my local Pet-smart. They retrieve animals from the kill shelters, so getting animals from them allows them to have more space to retrieve them.

It's indirect effect.

Think of it this way, go out to all kinds of different shelters, and find an animal you fall in love with. What matters is that you love your new dog/cat/thing, not where you got it from

That's a great solution, adopting from the kill shelters and donating to the no-kill shelters.

FunwithJoysticks - If you're worried about a cat getting along with your dog, you'd probably be better off with a kitten then a full-grown cat so that it can grow up knowing your dog. Check the classifieds in your local paper. There's usually someone trying to give away free kittens. I figure this is a fine place to get kittens from as well, because if they don't get adopted their going to end up at the shelter anyway, so you're helping to prevent overcrowding.

I take in strays....even rejects animals from shelters, unwanted cats, and I pracially run my own adoption farm, because people would drop off unwanted cats at my farm. They all get fed and loved here ^_^. two of my dogs are pure breeds but one of my 3 dogs left alive was a stray and the one that recently passed was an unwanted dog

All mine have found me, except the first one, a cat my folks bought as a x-mas present.

As far as kill/no-kill shelters go... I see the point, but there are several no-kill shelters that go out to the kill-shelters and adopt the animals who are running out of time. Not adopting from them, means they cannot do this, and thus cannot rescue pets who might need saving. I would suggest checking with the local no-kills and seeing if they rescue pets from the kill-shelters.

If they do, then adopt from the no-kill to support their efforts and free up a spot for an animal that might not fit your home/life but needs to be saved none-the-less.

Of course, I prefer fostering animals for the shelters. My local shelter actually pays all the animal-related costs other than toys and treats, and I give animals a home until they find a "forever-home" somewhere. It allows me to open my house up to more than just one or two (that I could afford food and medical for) and allows them to take in more pets in their place. It's difficult, not getting attached, but... it's hard for me to look at all the sad little faces and know I can only help one or two for the next 14 years of their lives, and the rest have to find someone else. This way, I help more than two find good homes.