| Every day people see stray dogs on the streets, | | | | must also be firm with the dog, and keep up the |
| wandering neighborhoods, and going from door to | | | | training, even if it's difficult. If the dog is an adult, it |
| door begging for food. Fortunately, there are good | | | | may be even harder to train, but patience, |
| hearted people who choose to adopt them, bring | | | | gentleness, and love will help. |
| them into their families, and give them a chance at a | | | | Rewards |
| good life. | | | | Despite the challenges that come with adopting a |
| If you're considering adopting a stray dog, you should | | | | stray dog, there are great rewards, as well. One of |
| know that there are both challenges and rewards. | | | | the most important is the opportunity to give a dog |
| Since you'll be bringing the dog into your home and | | | | a chance at a good life. And, for many dogs, that |
| family, it's important to weigh both sides of it before | | | | second chance literally means the difference between |
| you make a final decision. | | | | life and death. Saving the life of a stray dog is a |
| Challenges | | | | pretty big reward! |
| One of the major challenges in adopting a homeless | | | | Another reward to adopting a stray dog is the love |
| dog is not knowing its background. The dog could | | | | and companionship of the pet. One of the big |
| have been exposed to almost anything, and you | | | | reasons people adopt dogs is for companionship and |
| have no way of knowing before you adopt it. This | | | | love. No matter what a dog's background, if you |
| can mean the dog has severe health problems, and | | | | continue to love it and are gentle with it, the dog will |
| you won't know until you take the dog to the vet | | | | eventually show you love and affection, as well. |
| for an exam. Make sure you take the dog to the | | | | By adopting a stray dog, you also help reduce the |
| vet's office right away, and continue regular check | | | | number of strays in the United States. Thousands |
| ups to keep it healthy. | | | | and thousands of puppies are born to stray dogs |
| Another big challenge is his or her behavior. After | | | | every year. By adopting a stray dog (and having it |
| living on the streets, many dogs revert back to | | | | spayed or neutered), you reduce the number of |
| wilder behavior, doing whatever they can to survive. | | | | dogs that will eventually end up strays themselves. |
| This means they may be wary of humans, | | | | Adopting a stray dog can be a very rewarding |
| defensive, and not know "proper" behavior in a family | | | | experience, but it does come with its challenges. If |
| setting. When you adopt a stray dog, you have to | | | | you're considering adopting a stray dog, be sure you |
| work to be extra gentle with it as you teach it how | | | | fully understand all that comes with it. Adopting any |
| to socialize with humans (and other animals). | | | | dog can be challenging enough, but adopting a stray |
| Discipline goes along with behavioral problems a stray | | | | can come with added complications. However, the |
| dog may have. Depending on how long the dog was | | | | rewards are worth it, and the love you'll get from |
| on its own, it may have no discipline and not know | | | | your rescued dog will help you forget all the |
| what proper behavior is. While you're gentle, you | | | | challenges along the way! |