Shelter animals can make wonderful, life-long companions if only given the chance. People often think shelters contain only the "rejects": pets who have a health or behavior problem. This is not true; shelters are filled with animals who would like nothing more than a chance at a happy life, and their own family to share it with.
By adopting a pet, you save a life, and do your part in combatting pet overpopulation. Plus, your money goes towards helping more animals, running the shelter, pet education, and spay/neuter surgery. All of this, and you gain a loving companion too!