| Where to Find a Dog » Selecting a Dog from a Shelter |
| Once you?ve decided to get a dog, you have many options for where to find one. If you want a purebred dog with papers and well-documented history, you?ll want to visit a dog breeder or a pet store. However, there?s a lot to be said for going to a shelter to select your dog. For one thing, the price is right. You may be asked to pay a small vaccination or spay/neuter fee, but the cost is likely much lower than you?ll pay a breeder. The main reason most people choose a shelter is humanitarian. Some shelters have a policy of killing dogs if their original owners do not claim them within a week or two after their arrival. Thus, selecting a dog from one of these shelters literally saves its life! Other shelters are ?no-kill? shelters, meaning that the dog may live out its life as one of the crowd. Though a dog is usually well-cared for in such facilities, it will not enjoy the kind of individual attention it can receive in your loving home. There are many types of shelters. Most municipalities have either city-run or county-run public shelters. These are notoriously understaffed and under-funded and often fit in the ?kill? category. Still, they typically have high standards for sanitation, which is a big plus when it comes to stray dogs being confined in small spaces. Other shelters are privately owned and operated and these are usually designated as ?no-kill? shelters, where the dogs have access to fresh air and space. These are often staffed by volunteers and always appreciate donations throughout the year (i.e., even after you have selected your dog, remember to send a donation every now and then). Shelter dogs come in all varieties. You may occasionally find puppies that were abandoned, along with their mother. However, the typical shelter dog is at least a few months old - and most are full grown. They have found their way to a shelter for a number of reasons. Perhaps their owners no longer wanted them, or the owner died and the relatives had no way to keep them. Others became lost, without an I.D. tag, and the owner failed to check with all the shelters in the area. Such dogs are likely presumed dead by the owner, but you may be able to give one a new home. Getting a full grown dog from a shelter can be a tricky situation, but a rewarding challenge nonetheless. Although you?ll be spared the process of potty training (maybe), the dog may come equipped with a set of personality traits that may not easily mesh with yours. Ask the shelter personnel if they have any details about your new dog?s history. In all likelihood, they won?t have any information. However, a little patience will allow you and your new friend to adjust to each other and, in time, you?ll learn all the information you need to know. |
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