Her Majesty is a queen for animals! In a compassionate move, Queen Camilla, whose beloved dog Beth died recently, has welcomed a new member into the royal family: choosing a rescue puppy named Moley. By deciding to adopt, the Queen—who now shuns fur—is setting a fine example for her subjects (well, for anyone, really!). Moley is joining fellow adopted dog Bluebell in the royal household.

Why Adoption Is the Only Noble Option

Animal refugees in the UK and elsewhere are overflowing with animals who have no one to care for them. There are countless homeless cats and dogs around the world struggling to survive on the streets, where they’re vulnerable to diseases, attacks from other animals or cruel humans, starvation, and other deadly hazards. Many freeze to death when temperatures plummet in the winter and suffer from heat exhaustion in the summer. The lives of homeless cats and dogs are full of stress, loneliness, and fear.

Still, breeders and pet stores continue to churn out puppies and kittens, fueling the companion animal overpopulation and homelessness crisis even more. Every time someone purchases an animal, there is one less home for an animal waiting to be adopted from a shelter. Plus, animals from breeders may suffer a lifetime of chronic, painful health conditions as a result of inbreeding. “Purebred” dogs often suffer from painful and life-threatening disabilities, including hip dysplasia, blindness, deafness, heart defects, skin problems, and epilepsy.

What YOU Can Do to Curb Companion Animal Homelessness and Overpopulation

• If you are prepared to provide a lifetime of love and care for a companion animal, always adopt and never buy from a breeder or pet store. Tell everyone you know that buying from breeders is irresponsible, props up a cruel industry, and contributes to animal homelessness and overpopulation.
• Always get your companion animal spayed or neutered, and encourage others to do the same.
• Support PETA’s Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please! (SNIP) program, which provides free and low-cost spay/neuter services—as well as basic veterinary care—in underserved communities through our mobile clinics.