Are we adopting a dog for the wrong reasons?

Question

My family is thinking about adopting a dog. This dog has been at the shelter since 2003. One of my family members said that he has been in the shelter for to long and we are going to adopt him in a few months. That family member said "that we are going to adopt him because I feel sorry for him". Are we adopting him for the wrong reasons?

Answer 1

Talk to the shelter workers and find out why he has been there for so long. Any health or behavioral problems? Was he adopted out before and returned? Before you make the commitment, ask to see his records so you know what you're getting into.

Answer 2

If your family has sat down and agreed on the responsibility of getting and keeping up a dog, then get a dog. Of course you feel sorry for any dog that does not have a loving home. The problem with a dog left in a shelter/pen/cage too long is that there will usually be a challenge to potty train and socialize the dog. Is the dog in a foster home or a shelter with little hands on? This is a huge factor in my advice....
If the dog is in a foster home, then go visit the dog and sit down and talk to the foster parents about him. Will this dog fit into your family's lifestyle? Is he healthy and well behaved? Ask to take him for one or two weeks and then make the decision.
If the dog is penned up in a shelter, I would not suggest bringing him into a home with small children. If you have time and patience to keep a close eye on him while he adjusts to being in a home, then go for it. That is great. Again, ask for a trial period of time to see if you and the dog click.

I know some people are not going to agree with my advice, but I mean it with compassion. People have an idea of some perfect dog in their heads. They adopt the dog from the pound, the dog turns out to be not so perfect, and then it gets dumped back at the pound or chained up and forgotten. There are thousands and thousands of dogs that need homes. Adopt the dog that you will enjoy and love. My last three dogs have been dogs that people abandoned. All three have been absolute blessings in my life. Good luck and just follow your gut.

Answer 3

It depends. You need to ask yourself and the shelter staff why the dog has been there so long. Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions like, "How does this dog react around new people or if if feels stressed in a situation?" or "Has this dog ever acted aggressively or bitten anyone?" or "Has this dog ever been adopted and returned and if so why?" Sometimes the dog doesn't get adopted just because it isn't "cute" or because it is older or has a health problem but often dogs don't get adopted because they have serious behavioral problems, including severe aggression. Spend as much time as you can with this dog and learn as much about its past and its personality before you adopt. Keep in mind that shelter staff sometimes get very attached to the "old-timers" and don't tell you everything you need to know or blame you if something goes wrong and you have to bring the dog back. Also, the dogs sometimes get used to the shelter staff but don't react well to strangers. Sometimes dogs have behavioral problems that aren't easily detected in a shelter environment such as severe separation anxiety or food aggression. So ask lots of questions, spend time wit the dog and learn as much as you can. And thanks for trying to take on an "old-timer."

Answer 4

We adopted a dog who had lain at the shelter for 5 months and he is the best dog in the whole world. He loves us more than anyone can imagine. No you are not doing the wrong thing... there should be many more compassionate people like you in this world. Then not so many would have to be euthanized. And to your family member who says you are only adopting because you feel sorry for this poor dog, SO>>>>>>You are a kind loving person!!!!

Answer 5

Whoooooaaaaa hold on now Kitsune. We are all very aware that you can find purebred dogs in shelters and rescues. In fact, I have seen on numerous occasions people suggest breed specific rescues on here. What people will say is that if you're looking for one of those breeds that don't exist, then you can't be all that picky on what you are getting with the dog. They are usually just looking for a certain size and that it's good with kids/cats or whatever. In those cases people (myself included) will tell them to find a dog at a shelter and that it will most likely be a mutt. There is nothing wrong with that. If you aren't looking for something particular in a dog breed, then why wouldn't you be open to getting a mutt? There is also nothing wrong with people wanting to get their purebred dogs from breeders. Some people want to start with a fresh puppy that doesn't need any behaviour issues trained out of them, and some people just want to be guaranteed that their dog will have a stable temperament and no health issues. Because let's face it, you get a dog at a shelter/rescue you have NO idea where it came from and who bred it. I have always said when I can own 2 dogs at once, the first will always be from a reputable Dobermann breeder and the second will be from a Dobermann rescue group. My Dobermann right now is from a BYB - at that time, I didn't know all the facts on BYBs (like I have come to learn from spending time on YA). All I knew is that 5 weeks was way too young to bring a puppy home and that I was concerned the rest of his litter mates were already gone so I didn't know what was going to happen to him. I feel like I saved him but I know I paid for him! I think this is turning into a "people look down on people who adopt dogs" debate, but that's not the question being asked. The question being asked is why the preference in the two different terms...I am sorry to the asker for myself getting a little off topic, I just needed to clarify on something I think needed to be addressed! So in regards to the actual question - I am completely impartial to whether or not people call it "adopting" or "buying". I mean you can't say it's about money and that's what defines the term - because, correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not entirely sure as I have never done it, but when you adopt HUMANS - don't you have fees to pay in that circumstance too?

Answer 6

Not for the wrong reason, no. It is OK to adopt a dog because you feel sorry for it, however you MUST consider how the dog will affect your life, if you have enough room, money, time, love etc to accommodate the dog. You must also consider how the dog will respond to others in the household, are there young children that it may distress for example. Other pets should also be considered, any other dogs or cats, would they except the new arrival, and would it accept them? Please don't rush into this, otherwise you may end up not being able to cope with the dog, causing both you and him a great deal of upset and stress.

Answer 7

If your family wants a dog, and can offer a dog a good home than it isn't the wrong reason. Now if you are adopting the dog just to save it and you are not able to take care of it than it probably isn't the best idea. I understand where you are coming from, I hate going into the shelter and seeing all of those poor dogs. I want to save them, the idea of them being put down is a sad one. If you can take care of the dog and the dog is a good fit for your family, go for it!

Answer 8

Think very hard about this one. Why has the dog been in a shelter for 4 years? Red flag! Sometimes good intentions can be worse than leaving the situation alone...The dog may not be socialized properly to live a normal house dog life, it may need serious training, it could be destructive, could even have a neurological problem from being in a shelter for such a long period of time. I would hate for you to try to do a good thing for this dog and having it wind up being returned.

Answer 9

well, im not sure what to say, here i will tell you how i got my boxer dog, and maybe then you can make your descision. Whily had been in the kennels since he was six months old after the shelter had found him on the streets, he was trained to sit, stay, lie down, so forth, he was pure breed, had perfect markings, and they though that they should look for the owners, a perfect puppy like that would not be so perfect and not have an owner, almost one year later at about one and a half years they put him up for adoption, no one had claimed him. he stayed in a kennel at petsmart for about eight months. he was so calm, so bored, so tired with life, boxers are supposed to be happy and clowns, but he wasn't, he was mellow, calm, un ready to play or participate in doggy activities. my mom and i were going to buy bird food for my bird, we were currently living at a college campus, im only 12 and my mom was trying to become a teacher and it was our last few months at the campus and there were no dogs allowed. we saw the adoption van unloading there crates and shipping them into the store, and my mom saw the dogs and asked about the boxer, who was sitting in the front seat just breathing his tongue lolling in his mouth, and staring at us, i looked at him and said yeah right, i had always wanted a german sheperd, they told us to come back after shopping, we did, they let me walk him inside the store and i played with him for almost five hours non stop. we went to wal mart to discuss the dog, and our situation, we walked back to the pet supplies my mom saying that she wanted to get something for the bird, and we walked along the end of the isles until we got to the dog isle and she said, pick a collar. that was how i got my dog, almost a year later he is my son, my baby. so, choose the dog because you can care for and love him and you want him, not because you feel bad for him, eventually the right person will come along, if thats you, good, if not, walk away, and have the memory. good luck.

Answer 10

Check your heart level on this one.

We adopted a dog 8 years ago and it is the best animal I have ever had, after a lifetime of dogs.

This dog, if intelligent enough, will be eternally grateful to you and love you accordingly.

Be patient in training to live in your environment and don't leave it alone for longer than 8 hours at a time, when potty trained, to avoid kidney damage from "holding it".