| Whether you're thinking of adopting a puppy, small | | | | Similarly, most start out looking for small dogs for |
| dogs for adoption or really thinking of adopting any | | | | adoption, and again usually a small dog puppy. |
| canine up for adoption, you should be looking to | | | | And while there's nothing wrong with a puppy rescue |
| adopt rescue dogs from an adoption shelter. | | | | adoption, the choice to shelter a canine who is a bit |
| First, you're helping the canine population in general. | | | | bigger and longer in the tooth is probably the most |
| Usually, rescue dogs are at the bottom of dog | | | | humane adoption there is. We may all love puppy |
| society - while no one wants to see a dog abused or | | | | pics, but picking an old and trustworthy friend from |
| a dog abandoned, it happens to these poor creatures | | | | an adoption shelter can be just as rewarding for you |
| regularly through no fault of their own. Many die, | | | | and help a geriatric pooch live out his or her final |
| unfortunately, but a lot do make it to an adoption | | | | years as a beloved and well-cared-for pet. |
| shelter. These rescue dogs so appreciate any | | | | Finally, and just as importantly, when you adopt |
| kindness they're shown and only need a good home | | | | rescue dogs from an adoption shelter you free up |
| with your loving family to move to the top of dog | | | | the space, food and time used to look after your |
| society as a much-beloved family pet! | | | | new pet, allowing them to accept another rescue |
| Second, you may well be saving the life of a poor | | | | dog in place of the dog adopted. These caring dog |
| little puppy or a loving older pooch. Not every shelter | | | | centers get far more dogs for adoptions than they |
| is a no kill dog shelter - some have no choice but to | | | | can handle, so it's important that we all do our part |
| put canines to sleep if they aren't adopted, as the | | | | to help the adoption shelter as best we can. |
| shelter may not have enough room for the number | | | | If you're not sure about owning a dog or adopting a |
| of strays they get. A true no kill dog shelter must | | | | puppy, speak to them about looking after a foster |
| have a big budget, have a number of volunteers | | | | dog. A foster dog is one that is awaiting adoption, |
| who'll take a foster dog, or refer new arrivals to | | | | and you get a chance to try having a dog in the |
| other dog centers when their facilities are full. | | | | house while the adoption shelter has temporary |
| This is especially true of older or geriatric animals - | | | | space freed up to accept another dog abused and/or |
| while a lot of people will take an older, well-behaved | | | | abandoned by some jerk. Just be forewarned - when |
| pooch as a foster dog, fewer will adopt geriatric | | | | you decide to shelter a dog as a foster dog, more |
| ones as they don't have that long to live. Realistically, | | | | often than not a loving bond develops between you |
| most people think of adopting a puppy, but puppy | | | | and you end up deciding not to return them to the |
| adopting can be equally taxing depending on puppy | | | | adoption shelter, but to keep them as the newest |
| temperament (often a trait of the puppy breed). | | | | loving member of your family! |