Adopt a puppy & save a life

When you choose to adopt a puppy or dog from a rescue, pound or shelter you change one life forever (or two, if you count yours as well!) for the better!

Video: How a little microchip changed this dog's life!!! Please share this important video.

Although it`s not always the first option which comes to mind, dog adoption can definitely be a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Adopting is a humane, practical and andhugely rewarding alternative to buying from a breeder/neighbor (or worse, a pet store!).

Every single time someone considers it, it`s great news for the millions of pups and dogs waiting patiently for theirforeverhomes!

City pounds and animal shelters arebursting at the seams with homeless dogs and puppies who ended up therethrough no fault of their own.

In fact, according to recent pet rescue statistics compiled by theASPCA, HSUS and the National Council on Pet Population Study &Policy, there are approximately 3.9 MILLION dogs enter shelters across the US every year.

Even worse, is that just over 30% of dogs admitted are euthanized (although this figure is improving due to better public awareness, and a nationwide push for adoption).

And all these dogs are waiting patiently for that special home..... waiting to belong to someone.... waiting for a family who will think they`re special.

That is not just tragic, but unconscionable!

Why Are So Many Pets Waiting To Be Adopted?

Sadly, many people don`t realize the amount of time, patience, energy, love and money, it takes to raise a puppy (or any pet for that matter)... and they `bite off more than they can chew!

Unrealistic owner-expectations and `impulse buying` is behind the suffering of way too many pets, a tragedy that could be avoided with a bit of research and thought.

The end result of all this is usually that the unfortunate pet ends up being surrendered to a rescue organization, or worse - abandoned or `dumped` and left to fend for him/herself.

Here are the TOP 10 reasons dog owners give for surrendering their pets:

• Moving house
• Landlord problems
• Can`t afford them
• Not enough time
• Unsuitable accommodation
• Too many dogs/pets
• Dog is ill
• Personal problems
• Dog has bitten someone
• No homes for a litter of puppies

According to the most recent studies there`s a pretty equal splitbetween pets being surrendered to shelters by their owners, and thosebeing picked up by animal control. Heartbreaking.

Types Of Animal Rescue Organizations

If you`re looking to adopt a puppy, dog or cat, there are a number ofdifferent types of animal shelters you can go to in your area.

• A Municipal Shelter
  This type of animal rescue is usually your local City Pound, and often doubles as an Animal Control shelter and Rescue Home.

  Dogsor puppies at these shelters are at the greatest risk of beingeuthanized and don`t have much time for a reprieve!

  Some cities/statesmay have `no-kill` pounds, but they are few and far between.



• Private or Non-Profit Shelters
  These are usually much smaller and privately run. They are frequently `no-kill shelters` but can`t hold nearly as many dogs and cats as the bigger municipal centers.

  Inthis group you can often find breed-specific rescue organizations. Iwas surprised to find out that approx. 25% of dogs who end up inshelters are purebred (from statistics compiled by National Council onPet Population Study and Policy - NCPPSP.
   
  

Find out about all the different options available to you and get direct links to them (and the pets that are available right now) on my Dog Rescue Organizations page!

How To Adopt A Puppy

So now you`ve found the shelters and pounds in your area, and are ready to embark on your quest for the perfect pup or dog for your family.... how do you begin?

The best thing to do is to go andtake a look at each option with an open mind - and try not to pick thefirst pup you see!

It will be difficult to do because there are just SOmany dogs who need your help, but it`s important to take your time andbe sure you`re making the right decision.

If you don`t, the happy endingyou`re after could be difficult to find.

Depending on the individual shelter or rescue center, the procedure to adopt a puppy or dog may vary.

Ingeneral though, expect to answer some questions before you`re allowedto take your new best friend home.

Of course, the shelter WANTS you togive one of their dogs a good home, but first they need to be sure thatthe homeless puppy you choose is a good `fit` for you and your family.

Before you can adopt a dog or puppy (or cat, pocket pet etc.) they`ll most likely want to know some, or all, of the things below -

• Do you rent or own your home?

• Do you have fenced yard?

• Do you have children, if so how old?

• How many hours per day will the dog, or puppy be left alone?

• Do you have other pets?

Answer honestly, it`ll help the shelter staff match you up with the right puppy for your lifestyle.

You should also ASK some questions before you pick out your new best friend....

It`s so easy to be captivated by the first pair of puppy-dog eyes yousee that it`s a good idea to make a list of `my puppy must-haves` beforeyou go!

Ask yourself what it is you`re looking for in a dog, what things areessential, what are negotiable and what doesn`t matter one bit.

A few minutes thought and preparation can help prevent you leaving with the least suitable (but of course equally adorable) puppy in the place.

For example your wishlist could include things like -

• Approx. adult size of dog or puppy you`d prefer. Bear mind though, thata mix breed puppy is always a bit of a gamble when it comes to size

• Long or short coat?

• Male or female?

• Temperament & energy level, eg. do you want a quiet, laid back lap dog or a high energy running partner?

It`sstill perfectly possible that you`ll fall in love with a dog thatdoesn`t fit your list, and that`s OK as long as you`re aware that you`llneed to adapt your expectations or preparations to fit your new bestfriend.

Let The Shelter Staff Help You

The staff at the rescue center can help you find a dog, or a pup, that is right for you.

They will probably have a basic knowledge of eachindividual animal, private shelters often have fewer dogs and more timeto spend with them so may have more information available.

But even busy, over-crowded City Pounds are staffed by caring people who take the time and trouble to get to knoweach homeless dog or puppy and have the dog`s best interests at heart.

Before you adopt a puppy it`s a good idea to ask about the following things for each rescue dog you`re interested in ;

• Personality
  This is obviously easier to determine in adolescent or mature dogs,puppies can be more of an unknown quantity. In general, look for afriendly, playful pooch (not one who seems hyperactive or is cowering ina corner).

  If you can find out something about a homeless puppy`sparents or heritage it helps because individual breedshave different personality traits and and inborn characteristics (see my Dog Breed Information page for more on this). Someof this you can expect to show up in even mix breed pups.

  In yoursearch, be very wary of any dog showing signs ofaggression, and a puppy should never growl or snap.

• Energy level
  It`s usually best not to adopt a puppy who resembles the EnergizerBunny with ADHD or the one that refuses to even get up (unless you wantto be on the go 24/7 or intend to carry your new pet everywhere!).

  On aserious note, a puppy who seems listless and disinterested in hissurroundings could be sick, or getting that way so be careful there.

• General health
  Find out if the puppy or dog you`reinterested in had any health problems when admitted to the shelter. Ifso, what was wrong and what treatment was given? Is follow-up careneeded?

  Most shelter animals receive routine vaccinations and are spayedor neutered before being re-homed. When looking to adopt a dog doublecheck to be sure that this is the case with your pup.

• Social skills
  If you`re interested in an adolescent or adult dog ask if they arehousebroken, socialized or have any basic obedience training.

  Some areand some aren`t, it may not be a huge deal to you either way but beforeyou adopt a puppy it`s a good idea to know what to expect, that wayyou`re prepared.

Picking The Perfect Pup

Now you`ve narrowed it down to one (or maybe several) puppies, ask if you can spend some one-on-one time with the ones you`re interested in.

Mostshelters have special rooms or designated areas just for his purpose.If all goes well go ahead and introduce the rest of the family.

It can be a good idea for the whole family to go together when choosing to adopt a puppy, or dog.

Youoften don`t know too many details about the background of rescue dogsand, for whatever reason, some shelter dogs may be great with women andchildren but terrified of men.

Or they may be quite comfortablewith adults but very nervous around the quick movements and high pitchedvoices of children It`s best to find this out sooner rather than later.

Askthe shelter if they have offer `trial` or `grace` periods where you cantake an animal home for a couple of days, or a weekend, to make sureit`s a good `fit` before you officially adopt him or her.

Even if they don`t, many organizations are more than willing to take back any dog/pup who doesn`t work out, rather than have them homeless again.

If you`re looking for a family dog, you`ll find all the tips and advice you need on these pages.....

Video: Save a Life & Adopt a Pet

• Best Dog Breeds for Children
• Best Dog Breeds for Families

Congratulationsyou`re quest to adopt a puppy is now officially over!

The dog you`vechosen is one of the lucky ones, and you`ve given him the chance of ahappy life..... but what`s next?

After Adoption - Bringing Puppy Home

I know it took a little bit of time, thought and effort but it wasworth it wasn`t it? You`ve chosen the perfect puppy to adopt, signed thepapers and you`re all ready to go home.

If this is your firstpuppy or dog you`ve probably got a lot of questions mixed in with allthat excitement!

Raising a pup takes time, effort, love, patience andmoney (underestimating that may be what led to your new best friendfinding himself in need of adoption in the first place!), so let`s getyou organized...

Your new pup should have had all his ageappropriate vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments and havebeen spayed or neutered. That is a huge step in the right direction, andnow it`s just up to you to keep him happy and healthy.

Check out these pages to get all the tips, advice and information you need:

Video: Abused Dog Adoption Transformation | Amazing Story that Will Make you want to Save a Life

• Bringing Home A New Puppy

• Puppy Care 101

• Choosing Puppy Kibble

• How To Train A Puppy

Yournew puppy may (or may not) be house-trained and it`s important to startoff the right way as soon as you get him home.

He will most likely beused to a crate and I strongly recommend crate training a puppy - or a dog of any age for that matter, the principles are the same regardless.

If your new family member is a mixed breed dog (and chances are good that he is), then you might be interested in finding out more about his family tree. Apart from the curiosity factor, there are very good reasons for learning as much as you can about your dog`s genetic background.

Check out my Dog DNA Testing page to learn more about these and find out how you can get the info. you need.

Ialways find that having a couple of good books to turn to helpswhatever the situation may be!

Here are a few that I recommend youtake a look at if you`re thinking about adding an adopted puppy or dog to your family.....

Dog Adoption: A Self-Assessment Handbook

The Adopted Dog Bible - One-stop Resource for Shelter or Rescue Dog Adoption

Love Has No Age Limit-Welcoming an Adopted Dog into Your Home

Successful Dog Adoption

The Amazing Dog Adoption Method: The Secrets to Dog Adoption That Avoids Heartbreak

How To Adopt A Dog: The Secrets to Finding Your Best Friend At The Pound

They contain lots of practical tips and advice that willhelp you take the very best care of your new best friend.

Adopted pets seem to just KNOW that they`ve been given a second chanceand the bond between you will be a very special, and rewarding, one.

Iwish you both all the luck in the world!

Reviews & Comments