From my Gran, Sheila:
About 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs—about one every 11 seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Most “strays” were once cute puppies/kitties that someone found entertaining and lovable for awhile. When people bring animals into their lives, they are making a contract of unconditional love, they are taking a sacred vow with that being.
Kitties scratch the furniture and they will scratch your legs, their litter smells horrible if you don’t change it often. Puppies chew the sofa, they pee on the rug, they nip the children, they get bored when you leave them alone and they destroy things or they get hurt, they are just like babies.
They require TIME and WORK, someone has to care for them when you can’t take them with you on trips. They get old, they get sick, they cost money, plenty of money! Don’t break a vow, don’t adopt “anyone” unless you mean it, not just today, but for life!