Adopt and Save a Life Letter to the Editor for Adopt Don’t Shop Day
Writing a letter to the editor is an easy, inexpensive and quick way to educate thousands of people about the cruelty of pet factories. Most newspapers have word limits, typically 250 words or less, and require a signed letter with a phone number and address for verification, though they will not print that information. Check to make sure you comply with the newspaper's guidelines before submitting your letter.
You can find the contact information on the Opinion/Editorial page of the newspaper or by calling the Editorial Department. Email is the best medium for submission. Below are two sample letters that comply with the average requirements of 250 and 150 words respectively. Please be sure to let us know if your letter is printed! Contact Karen@idausa.org.
You may copy our letter if you wish, but personalized letters in your own words stand the best chance of being printed.
To The Editor:
The Saturday before Christmas is typically the most popular day of the year to purchase a puppy. This year, activists across the nation have designated the day as “Adopt Don’t Shop” day to educate the public about the horrors of pet factories and encourage people to adopt a homeless animal from a shelter or rescue group.
Almost all pet stores around the nation are supplied by inhumane commercial breeding facilities (aka pet factories) where the breeding animals are imprisoned for life and used as breeding machines. After the breeding animals are no longer profitable, they are simply discarded or killed. Hundreds of thousands of puppies and kittens are born every year, adding to the pet overpopulation that fills our nation's animal shelters and results in the euthanasia of nearly 5 million healthy cats and dogs every year.
Puppies and kittens sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores often have serious behavioral and health problems that might not be apparent for months—problems that can cost thousands of dollars to treat, if treatable at all. Furthermore, every animal purchased from a pet store means one more adoptable animal from a shelter will never find a home.
This year, consumers can help make pet factories a relic of the past by only adopting, never buying an animal again. The holidays should be a time for compassion. It’s time for all Americans to realize adopting an animal saves a life while buying an animal is likely to destroy one.
(249 words)
And here’s a shorter version:
To The Editor:
The Saturday before Christmas is typically the most popular day of the year to purchase a puppy or kitten. This year, activists across the nation have designated the day as “Adopt Don’t Shop” day to educate the public about the horrors of pet factories and encourage people to adopt a homeless animal from a shelter or rescue group.
Almost all pet stores around the nation are supplied by inhumane commercial breeding facilities (aka pet factories) where the breeding animals are imprisoned for life and used as breeding machines. Furthermore, every animal purchased from a pet store means one more animal from a shelter will never find a home. Nearly 5 million healthy cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters every year.
It’s time for all Americans to realize adopting an animal saves a life while buying an animal is likely to destroy one.
(146 words)
