I’m actually not against going to a breeder to buy a dog. I probably couldn’t afford it, but if you can then more power to you. I think that if you’re looking for a dog, the first place you should look is in a shelter. Those dogs (and cats) have lots of love left to give. They’re the most appreciative and grateful for anything that you give them.

If you’ve ever lost a pet, then you know how heart-wrenching it is. It feels like a piece of you is gone. It’s almost like an amputation where you still feel phantom pains in the arm or leg that’s gone. There will always be a void after your beloved pet goes.

But while you can never replace that pet, you can take all the love and pay it forward to the next animal. You can fill the void (even if not completely) by giving another dog or cat a place. They say that grief is just love with nowhere to go, and one way to help the grieving process along is to give your love an outlet.

So many animals in shelters need a home. Who knows what led to them being there, but the point is that they don’t have to stay there. You can be the one to bring one of them home.

Again, buying from a breeder is not a sin. In fact, it’s a very good thing. But please consider a shelter animal first. They need love just as much as any pure breed.