I remember the day my sister brought back my dog, BeeBee, from the local animal shelter.  

The day I met her, I knew she was going to be such a good dog.

Throughout my life, I’ve gone to many animal shelters and can recall the one constant sound that echoes throughout the shelter. 

The sound of hope from barking dogs looking for their forever homes. 

Students who are looking for a furry companion to help cope with the stress of school should consider adopting, rather than purchasing them from a breeder. 

Related: Hey USF, stop swiping on Tinder and start making real connections

There’s so many animals in need that it would be better to help those first before even considering buying from a breeder.

Every year U.S. animal shelters welcome approximately 6.3 million pets, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

Joanna Sanchez-Pacheco is a sophomore double major in psychology and behavioral healthcare. She’s adopted her own cats through the famous cat distribution system.

“We found my cats in a parking lot back in 2011 and they’re the best cats we’ve ever seen. Super healthy and friendly,” Sanchez-Pacheco said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better and I got to save them and then later they saved me.” 

Some pounds or shelters are “kill for space” shelters, meaning that the animals that come in only have a set time to be adopted before they will be euthanized to create room for more animals in need.  

For anyone who would like an animal, but would prefer breeding since they want a specific type of pet, a shelter can still be an option. 

Related: Take it from a USF student, college makes you selfish

Regan Blessinger is the marketing and content manager for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

“I think there’s a misconception that you are only going to find pit bulls or mixed breed animals in shelters. That’s not true,” Blessinger said. “We get purebred cats, we get purebred dogs, we get specialty reptiles all of the time.” 

Not only do you help save animals through adopting, but pets also give something in return. 

I adopted BeeBee through Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, an animal shelter in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

BeeBee gave everyone around her joy through her couch potato nature and her tendency to always smile. 

Animals can also help students cope with their own stress. Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

You can find your pet companion at a nearby pet adoption center. So this holiday season, or whenever you’re ready, adopt, don’t shop.