Adopting A Shelter Dog: Be Prepared To Ask A Lot Of Questions
There is no greater love when it comes to be the ultimate dog lover than to adopt a dog or puppy from an animal shelter or rescue. Whoa, before you start down the road to your local ASPCA or rescue organization you have to be willing to sacrifice time and patience.
What I am talking about is adopting a dog or puppy from your local animal shelter. There is no better service you or I could make in terms of raising a dog than by providing a positive, loving home to a perfectly good shelter animal.
For some of you, the idea of adopting a shelter dog will instantly cause you to become negative or feel defensive toward these animals. You have too many preconceived notions and assumptions that could be stopping you from saving a dog’s life, one that would make a great house pet if you just had the open mind and a little bit of extra time to train it.
I’m sure it may take a bit more persuasion for some of you to open up your hearts and minds to adopting a shelter dog, but for the rest of you who have decided that you want to visit your local animal shelters to find a dog or puppy who needs a good home, make sure that you approach the staff with a few questions before making your decision.
Ask about what kind of medical treatment the dogs receive. Most organized animal shelters will at least provide the minimum care necessary needed for a dog to go home with you, however, there are some places that unfortunately neglect important medical guidelines.
Some dogs because of mistreatment may not be right for homes with children, especially small children. Others may not get along with exsisting pets. Some dogs may have special needs that will require added attention. Every dog deserves a home and a family to love and give him or her a forever home!
These are just the basic medical requirements that every person should look for when adopting a dog from an animal shelter. Other needs may be a bit more complex.
For example, do you have your sights set on a dog that has been injured in the past, or is currently healing from an injury? What type of injury is it? What type of medication and treatment has the dog received? Ask about the cost of future treatment and medical needs that will arise.
Dogs that have special medical needs such as being treated for heartworms, fleas, and other health conditions may have to have life long medications and treatments and so it is very important to consult the veternarian on what future costs can be. Even pets that may have long term or chronic issues still need a good home and can still be a very good and active family pet.
It is important that you take this information and assess whether or not it is detailed enough so that the dog can be trusted with your family set up. The staff should also know how the animal reacts with children and around outside stimulants such as moving cars, other people, etc.
These dogs have seen the cruelest in human nature and their road to recovery can be long. Any shelter worth your investment and time should have a person who evaluates dog temperments. This professional not only evaluates these dogs but they also can give therapy and training to curb bad behaviors and habits. Usually a behavioral professional will evalute a dog with several test criteria. They will fill out a card on whether a dog has a good temperment, is fit to be around children, smaller children, aggressive towards food or other animals and pets, ect. then they place these cards outside of the kennels.
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THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN FINDING THE RIGHT SHELTER DOG FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! You will want to make the right choice and have the right fit to your family! You will also need to know if the shelter dog you are interested in is overprotective or , submissive or dominate in nature, how often aggressive behavior happens and for what reasons, and are there special circumstances that may provide answers to some behaviors in which you could help your potential new friend to overcome.
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Making the choice to adopt a shelter dog is alot easier with the more questions you ask! Get to know your shelter employees and volunteers and perhaps you might want to foster a dog before making that final decision. Adopting a Shelter Dog is giving a living and breathing creature a new lease on life! You are giving them the chance of a lifetime, a home that they know is theirs and a family to love!
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