I am looking for a dog to bring home for the family, but most pure breds are too expensive. I think I would rather save a dog than buy a pure bred. Any good or bad experiences with shelters? Is it a good idea?
2007-02-22 02:17:55 · 30 answers · asked by dave k 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
It's the most rewarding thing you will ever do. When you go to the shelter, you'll want to take all of them home (if you have a heart like me). We adopted a pup almost 2 months ago from a shelter, and I'm ready to get another! Just knowing she had no home until we came along made me so happy. I've also read (and heard from my vet) that mixed dogs have a better temperament than pure breeds because their dominant behaviors are lessened when they are mixed. There are so many dogs that need good homes.......you'll feel like you've saved a life if you adopt one.
2007-02-22 02:24:10 · answer #1 · answered by KmmK 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
As with anything that is done there are good and bad experiences. If you want to adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue just make sure you do not pick a dog impulsively. Before you decide on a dog make sure you spend as much time as possible with the dog to be sure you feel comfortable with the dog and also realize as the dog becomes comfortable with you and it's surroundings it's behavior can change. When adopting a dog from a rescue or shelter you should realize that you have to put work into the dog because unlike another poster I will not tell you dogs are dumped mostly due to moving/landlord problems people lie because they do not want to appear lazy or uncaring. I work with a breed specific rescue and I can tell you that lots of dogs are not wanted because of behavioral problems that were caused by the owners(although they claim different reasons), that being said you should also know that ANY dog you bring into your home will have to be worked with and some dogs will need more work and time than others, but in any case any and all dogs will need training and socialization, and it does not matter where they come from.
I can tell you from personal experience that some adult dogs from shelters or rescues can be a real challenge to rehabilitate.
You know sometimes puppies are available in shelters and breed rescues you just have to go often and early to shelters and for the breed specific rescues most applications will ask age preference of the dog you are seeking. Good Luck!!!
2007-02-22 17:32:39 · answer #2 · answered by Shepherdgirl § 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is such a sweet idea. My two dogs - 1 & 2 years old come form a shelter. But i adopted them when they were puppies.. i am saying this because may be you would like to adopt an adult dog. In that case, it would be very useful if yoiu could go and visit the dog with a friend that knows some things about dogs. In this way you will not end up with a dog that may had bad experiences and so may be behavioral problems (aggresiveness, fear ect). Still, i am for sure a big fan of people adopting dogs from shelters. You will gain a for ever friend. Katerina
2007-02-22 02:31:21 · answer #3 · answered by katerina m 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with saving a dog from a shelter. Just make sure you get as much information as you can about the dog. I know sometimes this can be hard. Ask them how the dog is with children. Every dog is different but if you care for them and give them the love they need it will all work out in the end. I have gotten a few dogs from the shelter. They were great dogs that were treated like my kids. Yes I spoiled them like my kids. The dogs ended up thinking that they were human. It was just to cute.
2007-02-22 02:29:20 · answer #4 · answered by ckchevalier 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I work with a shelter and have had lots of shelter experience with adoptions. A good shelter evaluates the disposition of each animal in their care before they put it up for adoption. They will be able to help you choose a pet that is suitable for children or they will be able to tell you if a pet should be in a home without children. Some animals don't like to share their environments with other animals and the shelter will also be aware of that. I've never seen a shelter animal go home with a new family that wasn't so happy to have been saved. You are doing the right thing looking in shelters. I have owned shelter animals all my life and presently have 6 of them. I would never think of buying a dog with so many wonderful animals just waiting for someone to love them. Please be sure that your new pet has been given all its vacinattions and is spayed or neutered.
2007-02-22 02:54:14 · answer #5 · answered by casie d 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes you can get pure bred dogs from shelters. I got my Siberian husky from the shelter and although i do not know for sure, i do not think she was mixed. Many people spend hundreds of dollars or more on a cute puppy, and then it grows up, its more responsibility than they expected,maybe it eats couches and other furniture and they abandon it, which it how many purebred dogs end up there. I got my dog the day she was going to be put to sleep at animal control and shes the sweetest dog ever, loves kids, most other dogs and doesn't eat cats, although like many dogs she does eat stuff shes not supposed to, but that's a small price to pay as far as i am concerned in comparison to the other problems i have heard of.
2007-02-22 02:51:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I rescued a beautiful dog about 2 years ago from our local shelter. It was the best thing my husband and I ever done. He was only supposed to weigh no more than 30 to 40 pounds but today he weighs about 80 but he is the biggest baby I have. And I have 3 dogs. I think that adoption is the best thing to do. I do not like those puppy mills and the condition they keep the puppies in. Adoption helps the pet and your community as well. I hope your experience with this is as good as mine. Additionally, when you do adopt a pet from a shelter part of the adoption fee is to have them spayed when they get old enough. So this in turns helps the population of animals. Try it, I think you will be happy with your choice.
2007-02-22 02:54:22 · answer #7 · answered by Dawn W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All of my dogs have been rescues from shelters and they have all been amazing pets. My experience is that the younger you get them, the better luck you will have (less traumatic life experiences to screw them up) but I know of people who have gotten older dogs that have been great too. The reality of dogs is that nurture outweighs nature, so if you raise a puppy right, he should be a good dog. There really is no need to pay $$$ for a 'deisgner dog' who won't love you any more than a pound dog if what you're looking for is a companion.
Petfinder is a great resource. I usually just go straight to the shelter and play with the dogs until I click with one.
2007-02-22 02:25:30 · answer #8 · answered by Lo 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I work in a shelter, so I suppose I am biased, but I think adopting (they are safe at a shelter, so you are adopting, not rescuing) is terrific. All of my and my roommate's pets (total of 3 dogs and 6 cats) came from the shelter and all have been wonderful.
If you do really want a purebreed you can find one in a shelter, too. Last week we had a German Shorthair Pointer, a Giant Schnauzer, a Cairn Terrier, two Chihuahuas, a Dachshund, a Shiba Inu, a Cane Corso and her pup, a Boerboel, a Beagle...and that's only what I'm remembering. I'm all for mixed breeds, but don't assume that is all you will see at a shelter.
2007-02-22 02:23:43 · answer #9 · answered by melissa k 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We have two dogs. Both are shelter dogs. One is even a pure bred Beagle. I will never buy a dog. We will always get dogs from the shelter. If your kids are younger take them with you and assess how the dog is with kids. Also, pure breds usually have more health problems than mixed dogs, thus lower vet bills.
2007-02-22 02:27:17 · answer #10 · answered by Jen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋