If you are considering acquiring a dog, consider adopting an adult dog from a local dog shelter. Dog shelters across the United States are full of abandoned dogs that deserve a new home. Most of these dogs are brought to the shelter for reasons beyond their control. Changes in family situations, moves, and illness are some of the most common reasons dog owners turn their dogs over to shelters, as is the fact that many people simply lose interest in their four-legged friends and go away. they do not want to take care of them.
Adopting a shelter dog has great benefits. First of all, you will save an incredible amount of money. You can easily pick up a wonderful, fully trained, well-behaved adult dog from a shelter for a very small amount of money. Often times, shelters will only require you to pay for vaccinations the dog may need, as well as the cost of microchipping the dog for your safety and peace of mind. Second, puppies take a lot of time and hard work. They need to be constantly monitored, house trained, and taught to walk on a leash, just to name a few of the responsibilities that come with raising a puppy. Raising a puppy often requires that you stay home with the dog for the first few months of its life. If you don’t have the time or desire to give your puppy the best education possible, you may want to consider adopting an adult dog that is already trained and used to living with a family like yours.
Sadly, most adult dogs that reside in shelters are only given a couple of weeks, at best, before putting them to sleep. This is due to the fact that most shelters simply don’t have the space or money to house more than a few dozen adult dogs at a time. Dog shelters get most of their funding from contributions and the staff is often made up of volunteers who donate their time to care for the dogs and the facilities. Time is simply running out for tens of thousands of dogs across the United States. It is heartbreaking to know that there are so many deserving dogs sitting in shelters that only deserve a second chance at life. Most of these dogs are sweet, affectionate, great with children and other pets, but they were simply victims of circumstances beyond their control.
Take the time to travel to the nearest dog shelter and check out the adult dogs that are up for adoption. Talk to the staff and ask about any dogs that interest you. Shelter workers are concerned with finding out as much as possible about the dogs they house. They talk with previous owners (when possible) to find out what kind of life the dog had before arriving at the shelter, and staff often conduct assessments on how the dog socializes, walks on a leash, and responds to commands.
Taking the time to visit your local shelter can result in you falling in love with a dog with whom you can offer a second chance at life. Dogs are waiting for someone like you, so consider adopting a shelter dog as your next family pet.
