Adopting a dog can be a very rewarding experience and help you find a devoted companion. It is also something that can go drastically wrong if you don’t understand the commitment, the time and the expense you will need to invest in rescuing a dog. You also should know how to go about the decision to adopt. Then once you do decide to move forward, how to proceed in finding the right dog for you and your family is crucial. Since the average lifespan for a dog is twelve years and this dog will totally rely on you for all its physical and emotional needs for the rest of its lifetime make sure you know what you are getting into.
We need to be responsible pet owners and make wise choices, but many people can be very impulsive even when making these big decisions. Often adoptions take place on an impulse. Perhaps you are out shopping at the mall where a local shelter has set up a temporary viewing of animals waiting for adoption. Seeing these animals in cages and staring them down with those adorable brown eyes, pleading to be taken home can be an emotionally charged event and has new pet owners adopting before considering all that is involved. This impulse adoption doesn’t always work out well as the new dog owner had no idea what they were getting into.
Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, and 10 to 20 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are euthanized simply because there is no one to adopt the.
You can give a dog you rescue a second chance to be happy, well cared for and loved. Some of the best reasons to adopt rather than buy a dog include:
Save a dog from being one of the millions of dogs killed each year by Euthanasia.
- Save money by adopting as it is typically much less expensive than pet store or breeders charge.
- Dogs may already be housebroken and pre-trained.
- Spaying or Neutering is often included in the adoption fee.
- Shelters spend time determining whether a dog will be well- suited for families with small children and/or other pets to prevent them being returned to the shelter.
- Mixed breed dogs have been shown to have less health problems than purebred dogs.
- A rescue dog can also be a chance to get a second dog as a companion for your current dog.
- Shelters are more concerned about the welfare of the animals and pet stores and breeders may be more concerned about making a sale.
Some of the downsides of adopting:
- You may not find the exact breed you would like to own.
- There is an application process and you must be approved before adopting.
- The dog may have some emotional or behavioral issues due to his previous experiences.
- Most shelter dogs are exposed to common contagious diseases such as intestinal parasites, fleas, and kennel cough.
Adopting a dog will have an impact on everyone in your family and requires a commitment of your time and your money. Discuss the decision with all family members to make sure everyone is on board. Decide up front who will be ultimately responsible for taking care of this pet to avoid problems later. Will a dog fit into your current routine and do you have the time and money for a dog? How set up is your home and neighborhood for a dog? Do you have a dog already and how well does he get along with other dogs? If you have never owned a dog, you might foster a dog first to get a realistic experience of dog ownership.
Owning a pet has been shown to have a positive impact on their owner’s health and well-being. A dog can get you motived to walk daily and are incredible loyal companions. Just make sure you know what you are getting into and then consider welcoming a rescue dog into your family this Christmas season.
Healthy Blessings,
Sandy Scherschligt
