Category Archives: Animal Shelters

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Dog from an Animal Shelter

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Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Dog from an Animal Shelter

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Dog from an Animal Shelter

If you’re wondering how to choose a dog from a shelter, these tips will give you some of the necessary basics to help you make the right decision when choosing a rescue dog.

1. You can find the best rescue dog for kids—or for any situation.

Chances are that a shelter dog is already fully grown, or close to it. Therefore, you see exactly what size you’re dealing with. A cute little puppy doesn’t stay small for long, and it’s a lot more work dealing with an infant dog who requires your full-time attention.

2. Be a life-saver for a dog.

Adopting a dog will most certainly be saving his or her life. Dogs do not stay in a shelter forever. In fact, there’s a constant turnover to make room for the new. Unfortunately, many perfectly lovable dogs are put down each year.

3. Rescue dogs for sale. Save money!

A shelter dog (rescue dog) will be in tip top health. Shelters check their dogs and often take care of vaccinations, spaying and neutering etc. Therefore, you will not have to pay for these expensive procedures. Buying a dog from a put store will cost you a lot more, and you soon have to foot the bill for shots and necessary vet visitations.

4. Taking on a rescue dog can be tremendously rewarding and creates a bond for your whole family.

Knowing that you’ve saved a dog’s life is an extremely rewarding experience. Enjoy it, and let the feeling of accomplishment be a hallmark of your family’s character.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Dog from an Animal Shelter

 

5. Pre-trained dogs.

It’s likely that your rescue dog will be fully trained and will save you from the carpet stains, obedience classes, hyperactive behavior, and full-time care that comes with training a puppy. This is a huge advantage.

6. Dog’s personality revealed from the start.

It’s quite difficult to determine the personality of a new puppy. A shelter dog will give you the opportunity to study and decide what sort of canine persona you are looking for. Take the time to interact with the dogs, and it’s almost guaranteed you will find one that will suit your own personality.

7. Help fight overpopulation of dogs in your neighborhood.

If you have any idea as to how many pets are euthanized each year in the United States, it should be enough to get your attention. If you are a pet lover, and it’s obvious that you are, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this, getting involved in reducing the number of dogs bred irresponsibly will make a difference.

8. Talk to the animal shelter staff.

Each pet is known by the shelter staff, and these details will be critical in helping you get a head start on the history of the dog, as well has personality, health, advantages and disadvantages. This sort of information will be of great benefit. Don’t be afraid to ask, as the people at your shelter love animals and will be more than happy to help you with input.

9. Dog owner support.

Animal shelters are full of people who are full of information. You will not find this anywhere else. Knowledgeable advice isn’t cheap, but if you purchase from an animal rescue center, you will tap into a support system that would otherwise not exist if you purchase a puppy from a pet store.

10. Relieve stress out of pet ownership.

Let’s face it; a puppy is a lot of work. Granted, it’s yours from the beginning and you imprint from the very start of the dog’s life. However, you also have a lot of effort before you and the amount of time you’ll need to invest in this stage of your pet’s life is a huge sacrifice. Give an already existing dog a chance at life by considering what he/she can do to save your time and money.

I hope these top 10 reasons to adopt a dog from a shelter will help you in the decision-making process. Taking a pet into your home will have its consequences, and making the right choice will make this transition and introduction a better experience for all involved—especially for the dog.

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Rescue Dogs Find New Home

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Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

We all love a good story, and that is why I want to tell this particular heart-warming one.

Rescue Dogs Find New Home. Pearla the Samoyed. Photo by Peter Gehr

Rescue dogs are of particular interest to me, and this is not only because I’m a dog lover, but I’m also very intrigued by the people who adopt dogs and the reasons why they chose their dog from the animal shelter.

In most cases, it’s life or death for the dog, and timing is of the essence when it comes to finding a home or not finding a home.

The fact of the matter is, some of these dogs simply don’t get a chance at life, love and family for reasons far beyond their control.

Rescue Dogs Find New Home

This is a story about Jez and Pearla.

Jez is a Lab-cross, and Pearla a Samoyed.

Jez had been adopted from a rescue shelter several years ago by a young family who simply fell in love with him at first site. Jez is now around 13 years old and has had a loving, active and well-cared-for life. Once he passes, this young family will retain a beautiful memory of a sweet-spirited, fun-loving pet whose life could have ended much more abruptly had this kind-hearted family not stepped forward to offer a home.

Rescue Dogs Find New Home. Jez the Lab-Cross. Photo by Peter Gehr

Knowing that Jez is showing signs of aging and his rich life will soon come to an end, this same family realized that another canine companion would be a comfort for him as well as an addition to their collection of pets (which includes 5 cats) and to help soften the blow of losing Jez when that day comes around. Good plan.

Upon arrival at the animal shelter, and with full intention of adopting another dog, Pearla attracted their attention from the get-go. Pearla had only been left at the shelter for 5 days and seemed to be fully focused on impressing this kind family with her antics, love and adorable disposition.

It was an easy choice and from that day on, Pearla has brought nothing but joy and happiness to both old Jez and the rest of the family.

To add to this great rescue story, the family has since moved abroad and is living on the other side of the world—along with Jez and Pearla.

Just think: These two extremely fortunate dogs went from being someone else’s burden to someone else’s blessing, and have found themselves in a well-deserved and loving environment.

Rescue dogs find new home: Jez and Pearla’s story moved me, and gave me a sense of happiness to have met them and shared a moment with them, and, most of all, to connect with a family who are overjoyed by the fact that they have made a major contribution to the longevity of these precious canines.

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Dog Adoption Centers: PetSmart Charities’ Rescue Waggin’ Program

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Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Dog Adoption Centers: PetSmart charities rescue waggin’ program. An important step in pet ownership is the responsibility of seeing to it that you dog is spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. Animal shelters are often inundated with homeless pets that end up being euthanized due to either overcrowding or the fact that people are looking only for spayed or neutered pets. In order to reduce this problem seek the advice from your vet, and arrange for the procedure well in advance. This adds an element of importance to the need and will give you a specific date, time and reason to follow through with it.

Dog Adoption Centers: PetSmart Charities' Rescue Waggin' Program

Dog Adoption Centers: PetSmart Charities' Rescue Waggin' Program

There are a number of opinions out there with regards to when a dog should be spayed or neutered, and the best advice is to consult with your veterinarian. Some experts say that neutering at around 6 months is best, and the benefits are not only the reduction of aggressive behavior, but are less likely to develop obesity, jump fences or fight with other dogs.

Of course, the main issue is taking away the desire to mate, which consequently rules out any unnecessary or unwanted breeding—which can lead to another set of complications.

Dog Adoption Centers: PetSmart Charities’ Rescue Waggin’ Program

Every day, overcrowded animal shelters look for new ways to save the lives of homeless pets. In 2011, PetSmart Charities’ Rescue Waggin’ program transported 9,541 dogs and puppies from communities with high pet populations and euthanasia rates to shelters with exceptional adoption programs and more adoption space for pets in need of homes.

Since its inception in 2004, the Rescue Waggin’ program has saved the lives of more than 52,000 dogs and puppies. It’s the first and largest national pet transport program in the U.S. and has been labeled the “gold standard” for pet transport by veterinarians and national humane organizations. The program has expanded from one site in 2004 to 60 shelters in 22 states with four routes today: East Coast, Midwest, Great Plains, and the South Central states region.

“Until more people spay and neuter their pets and we reduce the number of animals entering shelters, the Rescue Waggin’ program will continue to be a resource for shelters working to change the fate of homeless dogs in their communities,” said Susanna Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc.

Specially equipped Rescue Waggin’ vehicles have logged more than 1.5 million miles and can comfortably transport as many as 50 to 60 puppies and dogs at a time, providing them with a temperature-controlled environment, complete with piped-in lullaby music.

The Rescue Waggin’ program not only saves pets’ lives, it also helps many shelters improve their operations and manage their pet populations in a more sustainable way. To date, PetSmart Charities has granted more than $1.75 million to Rescue Waggin’ partners to help reduce disease in their shelters, upgrade cat rooms, and update and remodel dog kennels. Click here to visit the original source of this post

Dog Adoption Centers: PetSmart charities rescue waggin’ program is a terrific effort to intervene and actively participate in solving a problem. Of course, the ultimate solution is for pet owners to remain responsible by making sure they take good care of their dogs by providing them with the medical procedures necessary to de-sex so that any wondering tendencies are removed. Ruling out unwanted breeding makes you a conscientious dog owner with an accountable attitude and sensible member of the community. This is all part of pet ownership and contributes to the solution to cut down on homeless pets that usually end up euthanized—which is a result that could have been prevented.