Excerpt from About.com article: ".....there is a simple answer! First, we must all take responsibility for spaying and neutering our animal companions. Second, we can encourage and help others to do the same. Another crucial way you can help is to always adopt and never purchase animals! By purchasing a 'purebred' animal, you are encouraging breeders to continue adding to the overpopulation problem. They will continue to breed as long as they are earning a profit. If you adopt an animal from a shelter, you are saving its life. If you purchase an animal, the shelter animal you could have saved is sentenced to death."

Looking for love? It comes in many colors, shapes and sizes and is waiting for you at your local animal shelter. Please consider adopting your next pet. Use these search engines to find a shelter near you!
 

The last time I checked one of these search engines, I found that there were over 500 dogs just in the Boston area that were looking for a second chance. Please, if you are thinking about getting a dog, check out what's available in your area at Pet Finder, etc. There were many purebreds, as well as mixed breeds, available. Please do not buy from a pet store or breeder. Until there are fewer numbers of unwanted dogs (and cats) in our country, I can only feel that the phrase "responsible breeder" is an oxymoron.

Note: Every 1.5 seconds a shelter animal is killed! PLEASE spay or neuter your pet.

Links:

Worldwide Shelter Directory

No-Kill Organizations by State