A Couple Gave Their Son A Cute Little Puppy. So Why Am I Sorta Creeped Out?

Point made.

Puppies are just the greatest, aren't they?

All that cuteness bundled up in one happy little ball of fur... Nothing could be better.

"I GOTCHOO, little human."

But we all know they don't stay puppies forever.

They get old, they lose their puppy fluff, and sometimes, they get into big trouble.

"Nom nom nom toilet paper so tasty."

What if there were a service that would send you a puppy, then let you swap it out for a new one as soon as it got old?

Simply log in, fill out some preferences, and *poof*! A new puppy arrives at your doorstep.

Puppy getting too big? Not that cute anymore? No problem! Just click to swap.

So cool, right?!

"Bye, old dog! Have fun on the farm!"

WRONG. IT'S CREEPY. Pet ownership is for life.

Even though it might sound nice to experience the joys of having a puppy without any strings attached, pet ownership is, in fact, a serious, long-term commitment. Just because a puppy is hard to train or an older pet might pick up some bad habits doesn't mean you can return them when you're done.

"I take you, Rover, to be my doggie, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in dog breath, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."

Unfortunately, too many people don't take this commitment seriously.

And by "too many," we're talking about a whopping 6 to 8 million. That's how many cats and dogs enter U.S. shelters annually: 6 to 8 million.

The worst part? 2.7 million of those animals get euthanized every year.

THOSE EYES.

But what about responsible pet ownership? What does it look like when you do it right?

Yes, pet ownership is a big commitment, but that doesn't mean it's all seriousness and no fun! Quite the contrary. Responsible pet ownership can be the source of all kinds of satisfaction and joy, love and laughter, snuggles and wet doggie kisses. Not to mention proven health benefits.

What a well-trained human!

Interested in getting a furry companion for yourself? Follow these tips.

First of all, make sure that you're adopting your pet and not buying one. Even though pet adoptions usually have a fee, the fee is lower than what most pet stores or breeders would charge you, and pets that are adopted from shelters are ones that have been abandoned.

And second of all, if you're thinking of adopting a furry companion, check your local shelter to see if they have a fostering option for dogs or cats. That way you can give some animals a little TLC and a break from shelter life without committing to keeping them forever — at least until you find one that matches your lifestyle and personality.

Original video by Puppyswap (actually the Toronto Humane Society). GIFs from the video were made by me. GIFs at the bottom of various adorable animals are all from Giphy.

from Upworthy http://ift.tt/1AkRM4y

via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1ynVUnS