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Article Series: Dog Adoption
How Do I Adopt A Dog?
Shelter
Adoption –
Question The Animal Shelter Itself
When selecting a dog at your local animal
shelter it is important to keep in mind that, just like people,
animals are not perfect. Whether a dog is a $10,000 show dog
or a mixed puppy that is “free to a good home”, each will have
specific faults in either their physical bodies or psychological
makeup.
While it is important to select a dog that seems to be in
good health and high spirits, no dog will come with a guarantee.
Therefore, should your puppy or dog have minor issues such
as parasites or kennel cough, try to be tolerant and understand
that these are basic issues that most dogs will have.
With a little care and some extra help from you, your adopted
shelter dog will overcome these shortcomings fairly quickly
and then blossom into a strong, robust house dog that you can
show off around the neighborhood.
And if you insist on finding a dog that must be perfect in
all respects, may I politely suggest that you go to the nearest
shopping mall and buy a stuffed toy dog, because that is as
close to perfect as you will find!
Be Critical Of The Animal Facility
I am certainly not suggesting that you let all negative signs
slide from the dogs you are trying to choose from at the animal
shelter. In fact, besides common issues and idiosyncrasies
that all dogs will have, you should have a good idea of what
you are in for when selecting one of these animals and be on
the lookout for signs of good health.
In addition, do not just focus on the condition of the dogs
themselves. Pay attention to the animal shelter and do not
hesitate to be critical about the condition of the center itself.
Is it clean, free from odor, and well-lighted? Do the dogs
have adequate space or are they crammed with 2, 3, or more
other dogs in the same small space? Is there plenty of fresh
drinking water available? Does the shelter staff seem genuinely
interested and enthused about the work they do? Take a look
at the dogs when a staff member approaches them, does the animal
respond positively or back away in a state of fear?
The answers to every one of these questions should be a blueprint
in your mind that tells you whether or not these dogs are getting
the care and treatment that would make them a good candidates
to bring home to your family. There have been numerous shelters
in the past that treated their animals very harshly and therefore
caused more stress and emotional issues for the dogs when they
were adopted.
And let's not be too selfish here on the issue. Don't just
look around and decide that you don't like the dogs and go
home, help do something about the organization in question.
If you are visiting an animal shelter with the interests of
adopting a dog or puppy, and the entire place looks rundown
with staff that obviously is mistreating the animals, call
the local authorities to investigate further.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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