where can you get a dog?

Question

i dont think i want one from the pound though...

Answer 1

I celebrated 12 years with my "pound puppy" in August. Dante was an adult – 2.5 years old when I adopted him from the Falkenburg Road Animal Shelter in Tampa, Florida.

Dante didn’t have behavior problems when I adopted him from the dog pound aside from running away from home. He’s a lab. Labs are people dogs. Once he became a full-time in-the- house dog living with his people, he stopped running. I took him to obedience class and found out that he already knew all of that stuff. Then I had to learn it. Someone put a lot of effort into this dog and then surrendered him to the pound. He was so dejected when I found him there, he wouldn’t even lift his head off of the concrete to look at me. It cost me $15 to adopt him.

He is the best dog that I have ever had.

He has seen me through good times and bad, happy times and sad. I have seen him through separation anxiety after his first family rejected him and placed him at the dog pound on death row. In the beginning, he would take all of the cushions off of the furniture, pull the towels down in the bathroom and tear up the toilet paper roll every day when I went to work. He didn’t chew the furniture or cushions; he just made a mess. Once he even took the sheets off of the bed.

He has become more confident that I am going to come home from work when I leave in the morning. I have become MUCH better at dog-proofing the house before I go to work (close the bathroom door, kitchen trash out of reach, no food items down low, keep the toilet lid down at all times). But even after twelve years with me he still tears up a box of (trademark namebrand) facial tissues now and then when I go to work.

Now I’m walking with him through his twilight years. He has arthritis, hip dysplasia, and dry eye disease. His mobility varies from day to day. He’s starting to have some “accidents” in the house that embarass him. I take him to the doggie dermatologist and opthalmologist and last month I took him to a consultation with a doggie neurologist. And then there is his regular vet. The fifteen dollar dog gets more expensive every year.

Now of course, he can’t pull a $12 piece of dried salt cod off of the table and chew it until his mouth bleeds and his water runs out, simply because he can no longer stand on his hind legs to reach anything. But that time he should have died. He drank water non-stop until after midnight. If my husband hadn’t come home early that day and found him out of water, he probably would have died.

I could fill a book with tales of the things that he has eaten, that that he shouldn’t have, that I didn’t know about until he passed it, and I cleaned it up. Wads of tin foil, plastic wrap, paper towels, and bandages have emerged intact and recognizable. There’s another story about him pooping peanuts like he was shooting bee-bees but I’ve rambled long enough.

If he continues through Christmas this year, I’ll be surprised. I think that he’s still here now because he doesn’t want to leave me. But he still gets excited to go on a walk, even if we just go four or five doors away from the house. He still wants to play, he just gets tired sooner. He’s still thrilled when I come home after work. I know that the day is coming soon that I’ll have to put him down. But I wouldn’t give up the joy he has given me because of the sorrow that awaits.

Please reconsider a shelter dog. There’s one out there right now waiting to love YOU for the next 12 years.

Answer 2

Please adopt a homeless pet from a shelter or a rescue group. If you are looking for a specific breed, most breeds have a rescue group. Do not buy one from a pet store. Their dogs come from puppy mills (which they all deny, of course) and many have health or mental problems. Shelter or rescue dogs really are the best dogs, and you will be saving a life. If you must, at least get a dog from a reputable breeder. They may be more expensive up front but poorly bred dogs always cost more in the long run due to health problems.

By the way, there is no such thing as a poorly bred mutt. All mutts are great dogs.

Answer 3

I think you should try the pound you will be saving an innocent life from death. If you are not big hearted you can get a dog through a newspaper ad, just don't go to a breeder or a pet shop make sure you know where your new puppy is coming from!

Answer 4

If you want a purebred check with some breeders. Visit a local shelter. I think a pet shop is the last place to look because the pups are NOT healthy. Make sure they are healthy. Ask the manager or whoever, how they take care of the dogs.

Answer 5

Reconsider getting a rescued dog from the pound.
My dog is from the pound and is the best, smartest and most well behaved dog I have ever had.
give an animal anothe chance at a better life. It's good for you and great for the dog.

Answer 6

The best place to get a dog would be at your local shelter or humane society. These poor dogs are put to sleep daily because of overcrowding. Also, some breeders are out to make a buck, so they breed lines of dogs with genetic health problems. The purer the line, the more money you will spend at your vet.

Answer 7

Check with breeders if you want a purebred. Check out newspaper ads. Just DO NOT get a pup from a pet store.

Please do not listen to these people saying pet store!! The dogs there are higher and they are SICK!!! These dogs come from puppy mills. Only an idiot would say get one from a pet store.

Answer 8

Stay away from pet shops, they frequently get their dogs from puppy mills. Go to the SPCA, or a rescue society.

Check with local breeders, if you can, try and meet both of the parents of a pup, will give you an idea on size and temperment.

Answer 9

I was a breeder,trainer, pet groomer for 24 years.
If you interested in a special breed, ASK YOUR VET ABOUT A GOOD BREEDER. He probably cares for her litters. Be sure to get a HEALTH CERT.
There are alot of very loving dogs at shelters begging for a good loving home. These poor dogs don't have a chance to prove their love if not adopted out.

Answer 10

If you're not interested in a dog from a shelter, then you will very likely have to deal with a breeder, or with a person who has allowed their dog to have a litter.