If you really are a dog lover, then it may have crossed your mind that there are many ways of getting a new dog or puppy. Unfortunately, preconceptions about bad tempered, ill-mannered animals often prevent people from investigating their local animal shelter. There are some ill-behaved dogs in animal shelters and it would be naive to suggest otherwise, however there are other reasons for losing a perfectly behaved, loving loyal dog. For many dogs you are literally saving its life by adopting it, and if you have asked the correct questions there is no reason at all that you will have any more problems than you would normally have by introducing an animal to your home.
If you are convinced think of an elderly person with a much loved and valued dog, maybe that person has had to go into hospital, or died. The dog has to go to an animal shelter because there is nowhere else for it to go, imagine the dog pining for its owner, sad and upset because it does not understand why they have been separated. Imagine the dog’s joy to be reunited with another family, someone else the dog can transfer its love for. Not all dogs in animal shelters have been mistreated. However obviously if they have then it is going to take time, care and patience to rehabilitate the dog into your home. Abandoned puppies, whose only crime is to be unwanted find their way into animal shelters as well.
If you are considering getting a new dog at least look in the local animal shelter your perfect pet may be there, but ask the correct questions and be aware what your are letting yourself in for. It is as irresponsible to take a dog without knowing as much as you can about its history, as it is to leave it to be destroyed. The shelter’s staff is there to help match the correct dog to the correct family, they are not their job to foist any old dog on to anyone, they are dog lovers too, with a high level of commitment to each individual dogs needs.
Questions, Questions and yet more questions
The first thing you should be aware of is the dogs’ recent medical history. Has it been checked for fleas and parasites, has it received any medical treatment whilst it has been in the shelter including any inoculations. Most shelters have registered veterinarians and there should be a medical record at least for the time it has been in the shelter. It is possible the dog requires ongoing treatment and you should ask for an estimate of the future cost of ongoing treatment.
Another much more important question is the dogs’ temperament. The staff should be able to make a detailed assessment of how the dog has reacted to sound, does it cower, is it frightened, does it react to certain objects such as a broom? If a dog has been mistreated or it is old, it may not be suitable as a family pet. Maybe the dog is more than usually territorial and that will mean that it is going to take time and patience to rehabilitate the dog.
The more questions you ask the more you will be sure that the dog is correct for the home you can offer. For instance if you have boisterous children an elderly dog will not be a suitable match for your family. There are a few horror stories about adopting an animal, but many people find it a truly rewarding and positive experience.
