Once you’ve decided you’re willing to accept the responsibilities of pet ownership, one of the best places to adopt a dog is from your animal shelter. The shelters have dogs of all sizes, ages, purebreds and mongrels. You can find the perfect canine companion at an animal shelter. There are different types of hostels, private hostels and municipal hostels. They both have an excellent selection of dogs. Privately funded shelters generally accept dogs from owners who, for various reasons, can no longer keep a dog. Municipal shelters often have both strays and surrendered dogs brought to them.
When a dog arrives at an animal shelter, the staff will do an evaluation before putting it up for adoption. Shelter staff are an essential source of knowledge about available dogs. Shelter staff interact with the dogs on a daily basis. They feed, exercise and play with the dogs regularly. They also have access to any previous owner information if the dog was given as a delivery. Each dog has a chart where staff will record the dogs’ behavior during interactions with the animal. Staff and volunteers will have a good idea of each dog’s behavior, habits, needs, and adoptability.
Before going to the animal shelter to choose a dog, you should assess your ability to keep the animal and have a good idea of what you are looking for. You should have considered the size of the dog in relation to your house and garden. You’ll know how much time you can spend each day exercising, playing, and grooming. This will help you determine how active a dog you should adopt. It is the process prior to the adoption decision that is so crucial to success.
Knowing what kind of dog you’re looking for, visit several shelters before making a final decision. Take a leisurely walk through the viewing area and look for dogs that meet your size, grooming, exercise, and activity requirements. Note which dogs meet your expectations. Stand near the dog’s enclosure without initiating any interaction. Does the dog approach you, show desire to interact with you?
After your initial tour, write down the name of each dog you’re interested in, and then talk to the staff about your selections. Ask about the dogs’ history, behavior with other dogs, and behavior with staff. If this particular shelter is large enough, it will either have a vet on staff or have a vet visit arrangement with a nearby vet. Ask the staff about the health of the dogs you care about. If he’s been to the vet, they’ll have his record. If your policy is to wait for an adoption application before a vet visit, the staff, who work with dogs on a daily basis, will have a good idea of the dogs’ general health.
Once you’ve interviewed the staff and decided which dog you’re interested in, ask if you can take him for a walk. Allow the dog to calm down and get used to you. During the walk, observe how he interacts with you and see if the dog shows any desire to please you. If you find a dog you’d consider adopting, check the shelter’s policy and see if you can put the dog on hold. Now use the waiting time to visit other shelters and continue your search. Take your time, find the dog that fits your needs, wants to please you, and become that lifelong companion you’re looking for.
Make the selection, start the adoption process and bring your dog home. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll have a travel crate ready, your house dog tested, and the dogs first visit to the vet scheduled. As you can see, the general process is involved. There will always be stress and anxiety created in your new dog. This familiarization time is crucial for you and the dog. Know how to handle the anxiety created and the problems it presents.