You can still do it,let's plan and make it happen?

I opened and ran an animal shelter a few years ago. Depending on the species, it doesn't need to be a particularly big endeavour. I took in around 10-15 guinea pigs at a time. At the beginning only 5 guinea pigs at a time. Some shelters specialise in reptiles or fish or hermit crabs, which lower the cost even more. The biggest cost is vet care, which depends hugely on where you live, how much you can do independently (aside from surgery, I could do most health care-related things myself), and how good you are at fundraising. You really just need some room, the knowledge, and the support network of related shelters in your country. The emotional reward that came with rehabilitating even those 5 little animals at a time was worth it. People think of animal shelters as these huge organisations like the SPCAs, but really most animals are rescued and rehomed through the little private niche shelters done out of someone's spare room.

This has always been my plan. I don't know if I will be able to pull it off now, but here's an idea. I was with a rescue group as a volunteer. I provided end of life care and took "permanent residents"... dogs that were unadoptable for some reason. The rescue group covered all the vet bills, I just covered food (and routine vet bills.. but I didn't need to). You might start fostering with a rescue group first and see what happens. Hopefully you can find a good one near you...not all are great, but you can probably find one with research. I also raised hatchling gopher tortoises for the state... the cost was just some produce. There are a lot of goodbyes in both endeavors, but it was the most rewarding thing I ever did.

I volunteer a local animal shelter and I've befriended some of the sweetest dogs as well as some of the sweetest cats.

While you‘re basically correct, have you actually looked into the whole matter more closely? My husband and I wanted to adopt, but there are way more people who want to adopt than adoptable children in my country. International adoption was our next plan, but it’s also difficult because a) many of the rich countries also have more potential parents than parentless children, so they won‘t even consider international adoption b) many of the poor countries didn‘t sign the Haager convention which means you‘re completely on your own if you want to adopt from there c) even if you find a country willing to consider you as an adoptive parent, you and your SO have to spend about 3-6 months with the child in the foreign country. My husband and I legally can’t take that much time off work. Now we‘re applying to be foster parents, but foster kids are usually meant to go back to their biological parents. A couple we know had a little boy for nearly two years and now he‘s sent back to his mother.

I can’t even imagine how they must feel, especially as the boy had been abused by his mother and of course they fear that she might abuse him again. So while yes, I am definitely pro adoption and pro foster care, things aren‘t that simple in reality. Also, most children who need a home actually aren‘t orphans - orphans are usually adopted by family members (in my country, that said). Children who‘re up for adoption or foster care mostly have parents who either didn‘t want them or were abusive or were otherwise unable to provide them a good home.

Adoption from foster care can be amazing, but it’s a completely different experience from having a biological child or adopting an infant (private infant adoption is just as expensive as IVF or more). The average age of a foster child is eight. They are children who have been through lots of trauma and often have special needs. They need parents, but it’s completely different from having a baby.

Doug Stanhope said once it was because you want to see what you'd look like if you didn't eat so much cake.

Yes there absolutely does exist the desire to pass on ones genes. It exists in all life on earth and is a very important evolutionary trait which ensures the growth of a species. But I do also get what you're saying. And I dont understand why it is so difficult to adopt. Governments make it a really tough process for some reason.

I wish the trolls of the internet would stop sharing judgmental opinions on things they know NOTHING about. It costs tens of thousands to adopt. $40-100,000. More if you do international. IVF costs 10-20,000 per treatment. It typically takes 3 rounds to work, and isn't covered by insurance. And don't even get me started on foster care. It's heartbreaking. Lies about parental rights being terminated when they are not, kids ripped out of loving homes and forced to go back with drug-addicted, abusive, neglectful parents, promises that they will be with you forever only to lose your found family... Once you've had multiple miscarriages and have put through the wringer in every other way imaginable, THEN you get to share your opinion. Until then, try shutting up and listening instead of judging those of us whose hearts and bodies have been broken again and again and again.

I never wanted to bring a child into this world, so I helped my friends raise their kids, worked out perfect

Adoption is expensive and can take years to complete.