Your family is looking for a new four-legged addition. It’s time to expand with a new dog! You’ve seen their adorable faces on tv and your Instagram feed. Just looking up with those loving eyes waiting to find their fur-ever home. Sadly, animal shelters are filling up at an alarming rate, but you can help! Adopting a dog from a shelter instead of buying one from a breeder or pet store has major benefits for both you and your new pet. When you adopt a dog, you save the life of another animal and also open your home to the unique challenges and rewards of living with an adopted dog. While it can be challenging, adopting a shelter dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Here are 10 reasons why adopting a shelter dog is the best decision.
You are helping to reduce the number of homeless animals.
There are millions of dogs euthanized every year because there are not enough homes for them all. By adopting a dog from a shelter, you are doing your part to help bring those numbers down. In many cases, shelters have a waiting list of people wanting to adopt dogs. By adopting a dog from a shelter instead of buying one, you give another dog a chance at a home and a happy ending. Bonus, you get to become a new dog mom or dog dad!
Adopted dogs have already been spayed or neutered.
One of the best reasons to adopt a dog from a shelter is that they will have already been spayed or neutered. This can be a huge expense when you are buying a purebred dog or getting one from a breeder. While shelters do vary in their policies on spaying and neutering, it is very likely that your adopted dog has already received the surgery. Spaying and neutering dogs will prevent them from breeding and furthering the pet overpopulation problems we see in America today.
You can find a good match for your lifestyle.
Shopping for a purebred dog or even a dog from a breeder gives you very little information about the dog’s personality. By adopting a dog from a shelter, you can see what type of dog works best for your lifestyle. You can see how your dog interacts with your family and other pets, and you can find a good match for your home. You can also choose a different dog if the first one doesn’t work out. With a purebred dog, you generally can’t return the dog or get a different type of dog if you don’t like it.
You can see what your dog is like when fully grown.
One of the best reasons to adopt a dog from a shelter is that you can see what the dog is like when fully grown. By adopting a dog, you can see how large it will get, how energetic it is, and how playful it is. You can see how it interacts with your family, and you can see if the dog gets along with other animals. By adopting a dog from a shelter, you can see if the dog has any health issues or behaviors that need special attention. You can also ask the shelter workers about the dog’s personality and how it is likely to grow up.
Shelter dogs often bond with their owners quickly.
Many people who adopt dogs from a shelter report that the dog is very grateful for the new home and quickly bonds with the new family. Because these dogs have already been through so much, they are often very happy to have a place to call home. They are extremely grateful for their chance at a happy ending. Because these dogs have been through so much, they bond quickly with their owners. Many people report that their dogs are extremely grateful for their chance at a happy ending.
Your adoption fee often helps other animals.
Most shelters charge an adoption fee. This adoption fee often goes towards helping the animals still at the shelter and covering the general costs of running the shelter. If the shelter charges very little for adoption, it is likely that the fee is covering the cost of taking care of the animals at the shelter. By adopting a dog from a shelter, you can help more animals find homes and receive the medical care they need. Most adoption fees run anywhere from $100-500, but that is much cheaper than purchasing from a breeder, and you’ll be helping more animals than just the one you adopt.
You get to spoil a dog that will appreciate it.
Whether coming from a shelter or a breeder, all dogs deserve to be spoiled, but your shelter pup will appreciate it that much more. You’ll have loads of fun buying your dog toys and beds. Owning a shelter dog even gives you an excuse to purchase something for yourself such as a custom pet portrait. This new trend is so cute. You hang up pictures of your family at home, so why not add one for your dog? Our favorite pet paintings come from Apple Pie Painting. You can order custom pet portraits on their website here.
Tips for living with an adopted dog from a shelter.
If you decide to adopt a dog from a shelter, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing you should do when you bring your dog home is to make an appointment with the vet. The first appointment is the best time to find out about any health issues that may come with your new dog. You should also make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Many adopted dogs have pent-up energy after spending time in a shelter and need a way to release that energy. If you have other pets, make sure to introduce them to your new dog slowly. Lastly, make sure you give your dog time to adjust to its new home. It can also be a good idea to call a trainer and schedule an in-home behavioral consultation. While adopting a shelter dog is extremely rewarding, they can come with some traumas that create mild behavior problems. The quickest way to train these problems out of your dog is to hire a professional trainer.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the 8 Reasons Why You Should Adopt a Shelter Dog. Our team of dog moms and dog dads at Apple Pie Painting love their rescue dogs!