Photo Source: Obama Family Dog Campaign

All the dogs in my life have been adopted from animal shelters or dog rescue organizations.   Choosing to adopt a puppy or dog from a rescue group or shelter, you're not only saving a life, you're decreasing the demand for puppies from factory-farm like puppy mills.

The Best Friends Network, an interactive and global online community of people and organizations who care about animals, has just launched a petition to urge Senator Obama's family to consider adopting a shelter or rescue group pet.

If Sen. Barack Obama becomes president, he'll instantly be faced with decisions that will affect millions of Americans. Obama will also soon be making a decision that could affect millions of American dogs. It has been reported that once the election is over, the Obamas will be looking for a new four-legged family member (much to his daughters' delight).

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has suggested five types of purebred dogs that would fit the Obamas' lifestyle. While we don't disagree that it's important to choose a dog that matches well with the family, mixed breeds should certainly be considered along with pure breeds. Also, whether purebred or mutt, we believe the Obamas should make a winning choice and adopt a family dog, not buy one.

Best Friends gives 11 reasons for the Obama family (and every family) to adopt a dog:

1. An adopted pet is a life saved
2. Rescued pets love you just as much (if not more!)
3. Mutts are one-of a kind
4. Purebreds need rescuing too
5. You can find any size, age, color temperament at a shelter or rescue group
6. Rescuing a pet is the socially responsible choice
7. Rescued pets are already spayed or neutered (what a bargain)
8. Adopting decreases demand for dogs from puppy mills
9. Why not?
10. You can be proud of your rescued dog
11. That warm fuzzy feeling

The petition has gotten over 19,000 signatures in 24 hours.  With animal activists blogging, on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, let's see if the first dog in November will be a shelter or rescue dog.

Beth Kanter, BlogHer CE for Social Change and NGOs, writes Beth's Blog.