If you’re looking for a furry companion that would run through your keyboard during a work call, chew your belongings, or hide your socks, you should seriously consider adopting. Even though many campaigns and Bored Panda articles advocate for adoption, it never hurts to remind people once again about a cause that takes animals from the streets and provides them with a warm forever home.

To remind us why adoption is so important and how to do it the right way, we reached out to Corinne Sayler, an owner of a former street dog rescue named River, who shares their adoption journey and training tips on their Instagram account, ‘River The Street Dog,’ dedicated to this adorable pooch.

Sayler believes that it’s important to consider adopting rather than buying because there are a tremendous number of animals in need of a home, and for many, their life depends on whether or not they’re chosen. In fact, 6.3 million companion animals enter US animal shelters every year.

“I also think this is a human-created issue and therefore should be the responsibility of humanity to ensure these animals are given the life they deserve. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized or die on the streets every year because they are unwanted. That should insight action, adopting being one of the many things that need to change," she says.

“Having a former free-roaming dog has really made me appreciate the bond that can be developed between dog and human,” Sayler fondly shares. “He did not grow up in a home but still has that innate dog way of drawing you in to take care of him and see him as a family member. Dogs have such a way of both needing us to help them and giving us so much back in return whether that is laughs and cuddles or for some of us with more complex dogs, perspective and a mirror to our own hearts.”

Even though around 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year and the number is steadily increasing, there are still some misconceptions lingering around it. One of them that Sayler mentions is believing that rescues automatically mean behavioral issues. “That is just not the case. It’s a very unfair and stressful situation to put a dog in a shelter, and even the most temperamentally stable dogs may struggle,” she says."

If a person looking for a pet has specific needs, like being fine around children, she suggests adopting from a rescue that tests dogs in different situations or fosters. “This is often the best way to know what dog would fit best in your family. Adopting from a rescue frees up a spot for a shelter dog to take.”

For anyone looking to adopt, she further recommends going into it with an open mind and curiosity. “These creatures, just like us, will have idiosyncrasies, struggles, and phases of life. See it as adding a family member that will bring their own special flavor to your unit. Whether you adopt or buy, I would always recommend going to a professional dog trainer to help you start off well. Time and patience and not pushing your own expectations on them can do so much!”