| Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group gives | | | | homes. The dogs that need adopting are there due |
| the abused or abandoned dog a deserved chance to | | | | to no fault of their own. According to the ASPCA, |
| a happy life. According to government statistics, | | | | 50% of dogs in shelters are destroyed because |
| 700-1300 animals are abandoned per county per year. | | | | there is no one to adopt them. You might consider |
| This is an uncivilized disgrace. Going to a shelter to | | | | the merits of adopting a puppy, or adopting a dog, |
| adopt a dog is an honorable act - in fact, you will be | | | | and rescuing either from your local dog shelter or dog |
| tempted to take all the dogs home with you! | | | | rescue group. |
| There are too many puppies bred and not enough | | | | The merits for adopting. |
| homes adopting these dogs. Abandonment numbers | | | | The added bonus is that dogs adopted from shelters |
| are simply too large for the dog rescue groups and | | | | have been given their shots, and are usually spayed |
| the dog/animal shelters to handle. Many wonderful | | | | neutered. Adopting from a shelter or dog rescue can |
| dogs that should be adopted and given another | | | | be the way to go even if you are looking for a |
| chance are left abandoned in dog shelters and | | | | purebred. Besides the rescue groups for purebreds, |
| euthanized every year. | | | | the ASPCA estimates 20% of dogs in shelters are |
| There are no excuses for dog abandonment. | | | | purebred. |
| Common, poor excuses are given as: | | | | Going to a dog shelter to adopt your dog or puppy is |
| - Moving: A dog owner moves only to find his dog is | | | | a noble deed. |
| not allowed, so the dog becomes abandoned, as if it | | | | You should consider the following: |
| is disposable. Often left to the streets, or if the dog's | | | | - The background of the dog or puppy. |
| luck is a little better, a dog shelter or animal rescue | | | | - Shelters can provide assessments on aggression |
| group. | | | | and personality. |
| - Pregnancy: A dog owner that does not anticipate | | | | - Since most dogs react to wire cages aggressively, |
| and lacks the resources to cope with a pregnant dog | | | | see if you can remove a dog of interest from its |
| and the litter to follow. And, the difficulty in finding | | | | neighbors. |
| good homes to adopt the puppies. | | | | - Try to walk the dog on a leash in a controlled area. |
| - The dog owner underestimates the amount of | | | | Remember, you are a strange person in a strange |
| work required to care for a dog. | | | | environment to a confused dog. If you have other |
| - Allergies: Make sure in advance you will not be | | | | pets or children, try to examine the dog's reaction to |
| allergic to the dog you adopt to bring home. | | | | them. |
| A neglected dog is an abused dog. | | | | - Most pound dogs are of mixed breeds. A staff |
| An abused dog is when it is left without food, water, | | | | member can give you his opinion of the breed, but if |
| shelter, when proper veterinary care is not provided, | | | | you have a knowledgeable friend you may want him |
| and the dog is deprived of interaction and kindness. | | | | along for a second opinion. |
| When dogs are acquired, then forgotten or ignored, | | | | There are benefits and merits to adopting an older |
| they can starve, dehydrate, be exposed to parasites, | | | | dog. |
| infections, and worse. Sometimes, the abused dog | | | | A grown shelter dog may already be house and |
| can become overweight to grossly obese with | | | | obedience trained, and past the teething stage. You |
| massive fat deposits on the chest, spine, and base | | | | will have a good assessment of your new dog |
| of the tail, with abdominal distension. | | | | regarding size, temperament and personality so the |
| Adopting a dog - adopting a puppy. | | | | possibility of surprise is greatly reduced. By adopting |
| Dog shelters are loaded with dogs that desperately | | | | an older dog from the shelter, you will be giving the |
| need people to adopt these dogs and give them | | | | dog a deserved second chance at a happy life. |