Puppies seem to be in abundance when it comes to ill-equipped breeders or people who have lost interest in them. Before you buy that puppy at the pet store window or call a house about an ad in the local paper about buying a puppy, I implore you to visit your local animal shelter or rescue organization and adopt! a puppy! Too many homeless and stray animals of all ages do not have good, loving homes. It is an epidemic of massive proportions the number of stray dogs in our country that do not have a permanent family to love and care for them! Most people want that pedigree, new and puppy bred.
A pedigree does not guarantee that your puppy or dog is well mannered, healthier, or better trained than a mixed breed dog or undocumented dog. Shelter dogs are as if they weren’t better educated and trained. Many of them get excellent, top-of-the-line veterinary care because many vets offer their services and care to local shelters. It is a myth that shelter dogs and puppies come from acts of violence or disease. Not true at all! Some of them are there because the owners thought they were ready for a pet, but found it was more time than they wanted to share.
Some reasons are that the owners see the “pup” and when the “pup” is no longer a puppy and they are not well equipped to care for the dog, they either throw it into a shelter or leave it to fend for itself. Puppies are even brought in because an owner’s dog got impregnated and couldn’t take care of the litter or give it away. Even in those cases of neglect, abuse, and violence, those dogs can be trained and given therapy that results in perfect behaviors and temperaments. Here are some tips when you go to your local animal shelter to interview, and yes, you do need to interview at your local shelter! Not only for your benefit, but also for your potential forever canine friend.
Very important questions that should always be asked are: How the dogs are cared for. Do they get anything other than food and water? Does the animal shelter place an emphasis on socialization? Do you allow the animals to move around and interact with the other dogs?
There are a few things to look for when visiting shelters. First of all, if you walk into a shelter and see puppies in kennels or cramped cages and this is where they have spent their entire shelter stay, you don’t want to adopt ANY dogs from this place and maybe you should tell the shelter! Dogs that are kept in confined, dirty spaces, etc. they are being conditioned to foster fear of the outside world, trauma, stress and anxiety disorders, and other fears.
If a shelter does not allow their dogs to exercise or be left outdoors, then you should ask how they are allowed to enjoy physical activity and stimulation. You will also want to know exactly how much and how often human contact is received. To add to your query when interviewing a shelter, ask what services such as pet insurance, courtesy vet visits, obedience classes, and newsletters on care and tips for entering your new home after adoption, etc. .
