It is preferable to buy a pet from a breeder than from a shelter

My arguments are as follows: 1. ) Buying a pet from a shelter means that you have no idea where it came from. It could have come into contact with any number of diseases, and could have a myriad of temperament issues. You don't know whether or not it was abused, or has been bred (and/or raised) to be aggressive, skittish, or over-protective, as is the case with some dogs. (Pit Bulls come to mind. ) Most shelter animals are mixes, which means that you have no idea what kinds of diseases it may be prone to. It is common knowledge that Persian cats have breathing issues (due to their characteristically small, squished-in noses) and that German Shepherds have hip problems. But when you buy a mixed breed, you don't know what to look for. Furthermore, a reputable breeder will provide you with a medical history of the animal they are selling you. You are paying not just for an animal, but for the knowledge that your pet comes from a stable, loving home and has had the best medical care that the breeder can provide. You will know which vaccinations your pet has received, what diseases it may be prone to (if any), and the breeder will be able to tell you exactly what kind of personality a kitten or puppy may develop as it grows up. You will see, first-hand, what kind of lives the animals live. You will get to know the animal's parents, and a breeder can tell you about all about the animal's heritage, going at least as far back as the last four generations. 2. ) Furthermore, when you buy an animal from a shelter, you're buying right then and there. You see an animal, and you take it home. But with a breeder, you have the option of multiple visits. You can make an informed decision based on your accumulative experiences with the individual animal you're considering buying, rather than simply looking at it once and reading about it on a piece of paper. 3. ) Also, breeders are, in general, more attached to the animals that they themselves brought into the world. They treat their animals like children, feeding them the best quality food that they can afford, and lavishing them with toys, affection, and quality care. Shelters, on the other hand, operate like a business. Each animal lives in it's own tiny prison cell, waiting to be taken home. And if too much time passes, some shelters simply put them down. Even animals that are in perfect health are killed simply because they are too old, and are less desirable than kittens. I, for one, could never bring myself to condone such a practice- and I believe that purchasing a pet from a shelter does just that. A reputable breeder would never dream of needlessly slaying an animal that they brought into the world. A reputable breeder never breeds more animals than they can realistically keep, and therefore doesn't need to "make room" for new kittens. 4. ) I'd like to also point out, that most breeders are willing, and actually prefer, to take their animal back in the event that your circumstances change and you can no longer keep it. While you could do the same with shelters, there is always the risk that the animal would later be put down. How anyone does this guilt-free is beyond me. MY ARGUMENTS SO FAR CAN APPLY TO BOTH PET AND SHOW-QUALITY ANIMALS. NOW I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE LATTER. 5. ) First, I'd like to point out that, though it's sometimes looked-down upon as being "snobby" or "elitist", dog and cat shows can be a fulfilling and rewarding hobby, not just for pet owners, but also for the animals themselves. Dogs in particular love the attention and the adventure of socializing with other animals and spending quality time with their owners. This hobby strengthens the bond between people and pets, and for some, is a worthwhile pastime. 6. ) The entire purpose of cat and dog shows is to ensure that the healthiest, most well-rounded and well-behaved animals pass on their genes to the next generation. An animal that consistently wins will be bred more often as a Stud or Queen. Animals who are less desirable, more violent, or prone to health problems are disqualified and spayed/neutered. This ensures that with each generation, the species as a whole is consistently getting better and better. Breeders are working tirelessly, constantly, to fix the health problems of previous generations. Breeders are more than just animal lovers- they are geneticists. I look forward to my opponent's refutations, as well as his arguments.