Are you planning to add a new fur baby to your family? Instead of picking out your new pup at a breeder or pet store, think about adopting a rescue dog from a shelter. Every year, thousands of dogs are taken to shelters because, for a variety of reasons, their owners could no longer care for them. Some of these dogs may have been abused or neglected. All of them need a second chance. Fortunately for them, there are many benefits to adopting a dog from a shelter or dog pound. Here are the Top 11 Reasons To Get A Rescue Dog.
11. You Develop A Network Of Resources
The staff at your local animal shelter is a wealth of knowledge about dogs and the community. They can help you find a veterinarian or groomer in your area. They know if certain illness, like Lyme’s disease, are prevalent in your region. Want to find a nearby dog park or doggie 5k race? The staff at the animal shelter can probably help you. When you adopt a dog from them, you are establishing a relationship and building a rapport with local dog experts who will be happy to answer your questions and point you in the right direction.
10. Spaying Or Neutering May Be Included
The goal of every animal shelter is to reduce or eliminate the unwanted dog population. To that end, the staff at shelters and rescue organizations either require or strongly encourage all the dogs they place to be spayed or neutered. Some of the dogs coming into the facility may already by spayed or neutered. If they are not, then many shelters have this procedure done for every dog they take in. Still others have agreements with local veterinarians to offer spaying or neutering at a discounted rate for newly-adopted rescue dogs.
9. A Wide Selection Of Dogs
On any given day, an animal shelter will have a variety of animals to choose from, whereas a breeder has just one breed of dog. You will be able to pick from tiny, toy dogs to big, athletic dogs and all sizes in between. There will be full-blooded dogs and mutts, or mixed breed dogs. You shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss a mixed breed dog. These can be some of the best behaved, sweetest, smartest dogs you will ever find.
8. You Are Doing The Morally-Responsible Thing
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem. By adopting your next dog from a rescue organization or an animal shelter, you are doing your part to help solve the problem. You know that warm glow of pride you get when you remember to recycle or donate your time to a worthy cause or decline a plastic straw at a restaurant? That’s the feeling of pride for doing the morally-responsible thing. You will get that feeling when you adopt a rescue dog and give him a wonderful life.
7. You May Get A Wonderful Adult Dog
Remember the challenges of the puppy stage when energetic pups chew, claw, dig, and destroy everything in sight? Remember the frustrations of housetraining a puppy? You can often bypass all that by adopting an older, adult dog. Older dogs are more mellow, eager to please, and in most cases require less initial training than a puppy. If you don’t have the time to properly train a young puppy, then adopt an older, adult dog from a rescue organization.
6. Rescue Dogs Costs Less
Buying a purebred puppy from a breeder is expensive. Breeders are, or course, in business to make a profit and, in return, they offer top-quality, healthy, purebred puppies. On the other hand, adopting a rescue dog from a shelter or animal rescue organization typically costs much less. Many of these organizations are not-for-profit groups, so you only pay an adoption fee, which is much less than the cost of a purebred pup from a breeder.
5. You Can Help Put An End To Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders are amateur dog breeders who are less concerned about maintaining the integrity of the breed than they are with making a profit from their puppies. Many times, puppies that come from backyard breeders have genetic problems and health issues that stem from unscrupulous breeding practices. People buy from backyard breeders because the puppies are just as cute, and they come at a lower cost. Backyard breeders are a small-scale version of puppy mills. The best way to put an end to irresponsible dog breeding practices is to stop buying from backyard breeders and puppy mills. Adopting a rescue dog gives an unwanted dog a new home and takes business away from misguided backyard breeders.
4. You Will Know The Rescue Dog Is Healthy
Animal shelters and rescue organizations will not adopt out dogs that are ill or unhealthy. They will work to get the dog back in good health, physically and mentally, before sending him to his new forever home. In fact, more and more rescue organizations and dog shelters work closely with veterinarians to ensure the health of their dogs. Before they can be adopted, they are brought up to date on their vaccines and go through behavioral screening to make sure they are ready for their new families.
3. You Could Inspire Others
By adopting a rescue dog, you may be an inspiration for others looking for a new, four-legged best friend. Anyone who meets your rescue dog will naturally ask you questions about him. This is your chance to talk up the virtues of rescue pets. Anytime you post pics of your darling dog on social media, you could include the #rescuedog to help encourage others to share the rescue dog experience.
2. You Will Be A Lifesaver
Dogs that end up in animal shelters or in rescue organization facilities have been lost, given up, or abandoned. There are so many dogs that end up in this situation that there are simply not enough homes for them all. Unfortunately, that means that some of the dogs are euthanized because there isn’t anyone to care for them. Dogs in animal shelters need people like you to give them a second chance at a long and happy life. You may, quite literally, be a lifesaver when you adopt a shelter dog.
1. You Will Be Rewarded With Unconditional Love
When a dog has a rough start to his life, then he will form a strong bond with his rescuer and show unconditional love. As the dog thrives in the home you provide for him, he will appreciate and respect you, which will manifest in slobbery kisses, snuggles, and loyalty. Your rescue dog may become your biggest source of joy.
Bringing a rescue dog into your life is a selfless act that opens your heart and home to a dog in need. Too many people in search of a furry best friend dismiss shelter dogs. These dogs, however, are every bit as friendly, faithful, playful, and healthy as puppies from breeders or pet stores. The only difference it that a shelter dog needs you to be his second chance.