The decision to bring a companion animal into your home shouldn't be made lightly, but when you do, consider this... For every animal sold in pet stores, equally healthy and deserving animals in shelters face death row whilst waiting for someone to adopt them. The sale of animals from pet stores and breeders underpin an overbreeding crisis which is resulting in hundreds of thousands of needy animals being euthanised every year simply because there aren't enough good homes for them. Your commitment to adopt, not buy, can save lives and help end the pet overpopulation crisis.

The pet overpopulation crisis is a problem we can each help to solve. Hundreds of thousands of healthy but unwanted animals are relying on each of us to make the right choice. Here are the key things you can do to help:

• Send this pledge to friends.
• Avoid making impulse decisions about caring for an animal -- adopting is a life-long commitment. When you're ready to bring an animal into your home, find a local rescue shelter. Click here for a list of shelters around Australia.
• Having your companion animals desexed before reproductive age (between 2 - 3 months for cats and dogs) is critical. 'Accidental' litters are responsible for many of the surrendered kittens and puppies who are often euthanised by overcrowded animal shelters.
• Ensure that your pets have a visible collar and address tag, and are microchipped so that even if they lose a collar they can be returned to their home, and will not become a euthanasia statistic!
• Support 'pet shops' that only sell pet food and accessories, and direct people to shelters if they want a new pet. Some pet shops help rehome refuge animals or help by advertising displaced animals searching for a new home in their windows. These pet shops should be supported as they are part of the solution rather than the problem.
• Animals Australia's vital campaigns to protect animals are funded entirely by donations. Please donate today and help put to end animal abuse.