Benefits of Adopting a Dog from a Shelter

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about dog adoption to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from dog adoption experts.

When considering the birth rates among animals, it’s not hard to understand why animal shelters are always filled with animals waiting to be adopted.  Shockingly, it has been calculated that over a seven year period, one female cat and her offspring will produce approximately 420,000 kittens.  Likewise, one female dog and her offspring will produce 67,000 puppies during a six year period.  Since there are more animals looking for homes than there are people who want to adopt them, some 6.5 million animals are euthanized each year.

Given the statistics cited above, adopting an animal can be a kind and loving thing to do. If you have been thinking of getting a new dog, have you considered all the options available to you? The obvious choice people make, when considering a new dog is to go to a specialized dog breeder. A good dog breeder will be able to sell you a puppy that has been checked for genetic problems, diseases etc and will very often provide you with a high quality pedigree dog that should be free from problems that plague a lot of dogs. This is ideal for a lot of people but of course will come at a price. There is an alternative - adopting a puppy or adult dog.

Despite the presence of many shelters and rescue groups, many dog owners still get their dogs from pet shops, not knowing that adopting a dog from a shelter is a much better option.

There are lots of dogs that are without homes at animal shelters or humane societies. These animals are often a victim of circumstance. Either an owner has died, or an elderly person cannot cope any more. Sadly through no fault of their own, they have ended up homeless. Adopting a dog, may be a great way to offer a loving home to one of these dogs. Why would you pick your pet from an animal shelter? Here are the top reasons:

You're helping the canine community.

Dogs are homeless for a variety of reasons. Some are not wanted by their families, others were left to stray the streets. No matter the reason, these poor creatures deserve homes that can provide them a loving environment and a caring family.

You are giving a dog a second chance to live a good life.

Even dogs deserve a second chance. Dogs are often left in the streets for faults they did not commit. Their previous owners, for example, have no time to take care of their dogs or are moving to another city. There are also dogs that were left because their owners died and no one is left to care of them. Other owners can't handle the financial expense of owning a dog, and thus surrender them to shelters. Sure, some dogs are guilty of misbehaving, but that does not make them deserve being homeless. By giving a homeless dog another chance, you are also giving them another shot at being loved, and for yourself, a chance at being loved unconditionally.

You're helping the shelter.

Even if they want to take care of all dogs in the street, they only have resources for a limited number of stray dogs. Help them out by extending your hand to one of their dogs. Whenever you adopt from a shelter, it’s as if you are giving the shelter extra bed, food, and medical supplies.

You get a dog at a bargain price.

Dogs can cost as much as several hundred dollars. Getting a dog from animal shelter, on the other hand, can only cost you as much as $100. This fee covers for the maintenance cost of the dog, for spaying or neutering fee, and for other expenses. There are, in fact, plenty of animal shelters that are happy to give their dogs for free. It is not always advisable to take a dog home for free.

You can also save on training expenses because most dogs in animal shelters have been housebroken and trained. There are, in fact, dogs in animal shelters that have been trained for specific functions. If you need an assistance dog such as a guide dog, a service dog or a hearing dog, you can begin your search in animal shelters.

You can save the life of a poor dog.

Because of overpopulation, some shelters euthanize their dogs – mostly senior and adult dogs. They do not want to do this but it is often necessary to give a chance to younger dogs. Save a dog's life by adopting one.

You are bringing home a new friend.

Dogs understand and forgive you even when others cannot. If you want a constant companion that is trained, has received the necessary medical attention, and is old enough not to cause you problems, you can adopt a dog from an animal shelter.

A lot of people are concerned that they may end up with an unhealthy dog, or a dog that may be aggressive by getting one from a shelter. Most animal shelters will check a dog for good health and good temperament, so if there are any problems you will be told about them. Also, a lot of shelters offer in-house training to increase the chances of a dog finding a new home. This is great for everybody!