Anoushey Ashraf breaks down why it's better to adopt animals rather than shop for them

If you'e considering getting a new furry pal for your home, this is your sign to adopt, not shop! RJ and actor Anoushey Ashraf has some strong opinions about buying animals — it's always better to provide someone with a home rather than create more demand for the puppy breeding business that operates in terrible conditions and disregards the animals afterwards.

"ADOPT, DON'T SHOP! WHY?" she titled an Instagram post. The actor also attached a photo of a puppy holding a picture of her that read, "Have you seen this person?" to perhaps garner greater empathy by reversing the roles.

"Because you'll save a life, with all this culling it’s our moral duty to help," she wrote.

In an earlier conversation with Images animal rights activist and founder of the animal rescue organisation ACF, Ayesha Chundrigar, commented on the culling of street dogs and claimed that the people who harm street animals lack awareness. “We are seeing that they’re poisoning our vaccinated dogs. Why would anyone do this? Why would they kill an animal?”

Chundrigar pressed on the urgency to initiate dialogue, to help bring about awareness among people. “They aren’t bad people. In many cases, they just don’t know any better,” she said of ordinary people who hurt animals on the streets.

Adopting animals is one way to fight puppy mills, said Ashraf in her post. "If you buy a dog from a pet store, online or market, you are certainly getting it from a puppy mill which are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above all. Animals from mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions and are sick," the RJ explained. "Their moms are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship. After they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold."

Ashraf said that puppy mills continue to stay in business through deceptive tactics. "Their customers are unsuspecting consumers who shop in pet stores, over the internet or through classified ads. They will continue to operate until people stop supporting them. By adopting a pet, you can be certain you aren't giving them a dime."

She talked about how adopting a pet is a mutually beneficial situation. "Because all pets are good for your health as they have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally and physically beneficial to their companions. When you adopt, you can also feel proud about helping an animal in need!"

Ashraf raised a great point about adopting being directly linked with how many more lives animal shelters can save. "Adoption helps more than just one animal. Overburdened shelters take in 100s of animals and by adopting an animal, you’re making room for others.

"Because you'll change a homeless animal's whole world: And get a new best friend out of the deal!" Sounds like a win-win situation to us.

The RJ added that spaying/neutering increases your pet's chances for a longer, healthier life. "It eliminates uterine and ovarian cancer! Neutering your male pet prevents testicular tumors, prostate problems, perianal tumors and hernias! Neutered cats are less likely to roam, and so the threat of bites and diseases transmitted by fighting are reduced. Males are less aggressive and are not distracted by females in heat."

She detailed the benefits of spaying female pets and said it reduces their desire to roam and breed. "No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy and you will help alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem," she explained.

"Each year, millions of unwanted strays are killed. Many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets are sterilised the fewer will have to be killed," Ashraf wrote.

The RJ has spoken up for animal rights on multiple occasions, posting on her Instagram to send a good message out there for her followers. She's encouraged people to be kinder to sacrificial animals, advocated for animal welfare on her trip to Turkey and even shared a personal story about how she's been rescuing animals since the age of nine.

It is refreshing to see someone with influence use their platform for good with a very helpful post that's advocating for the rights of beings that can't speak for themselves. Adopting saves lives, shelters the homeless AND it’s free. There seem to be no drawbacks, so please be kind and go for it — save a life today.