Shelter Dogs

“You never know what you get when you get a dog from a shelter.” Have you ever heard that statement before? I have, but that can be said no matter where you may get your dog.

Most dogs are surrendered by loving owners, who for some reason cannot keep their beloved pet. It might be an illness in the family, they are moving, or simply that they can’t afford to take care of their pet any longer.

The time a dog spends at a shelter depends on a number of factors. Breed, activity level, cuteness, and age. Older dogs tend to be adopted at a slow rate while puppies find forever homes much quicker. Matching people to the right dog is a very important part of the adoption process. A senior dog may be a better fit for a senior citizen than a puppy. The adoption process includes interviews with the whole family, this way the volunteer can find out why this family wants a dog. Who will be the main care giver and if their schedule will permit proper care of the dog. Then family and dog meet. Meeting at the shelter which reduces stress on the dog as it gets introduced into its new family. Then finally the ride home.

Not all shelter dogs are mixed breeds. A twenty year dog breeder and trainer, Phil Snyder says. “At any given time 25% of dogs can be pure breed. Breeders sometimes bring in puppies that don’t sell.”

Mr. Snyder has worked at the Humane Society, www.humanesociety.org for over a decade and says that, “We no longer euthanize a dog because it’s been here too long….we have had some dogs here for 10 months and even longer.” The longer a dog stays at the shelter the harder it is to find a home for him. Snyder says, “There’s nothing wrong with the dog, it just might not have the pizzazz people are looking for.”

Shelter dogs are well cared for. They see a veterinarian on a regular basis and are exercised and have daily contact with people who love them. Many shelters have foster programs. Yes, it’s just what it sounds like, a temporary home for a dog to go after its been in the shelter for a while.

The folks that foster these dogs attend orientation and must be prepared to invest time in training caring for and loving their furry friend. With this investment the foster family is giving their shelter dog a second chance at finding a forever home. The foster program is a win/win situation. The dog leaves the shelter and spend time with a loving family. The shelter has more room for a dog in need and the foster family gets the love of a dog until a forever home is found.

There are as many different breeds at the shelter as there are dog breeds. Chihuahuas to Great Danes and every size in between. The most common breed in my local shelter is the Pit Bull mix. No matter what the breed, all dogs go through a screening process. The staff spends time with the dogs playing, grooming and observing how they interact with people and other dogs. The dogs at my local shelter are up to date on all shots, spayed or neutered and microchipped. You can adopt a dog from eight weeks to seven years for $85.00. Dogs older than seven years are $50.00. County license are extra.

Super Paws Rescue Inc in Fairfield Ct, www.superpawsrescueinc.org takes complete care of their rescued dogs before you adopt. They spay or neuter your prospective dog, perform a heartworm test, make sure all shots are up to date and even take care of its dental needs. While most of the dogs brought in are in good health, the loving staff of Super Paws Rescue have dealt with everything from mange to cancer. Considering the veterinarian fees in Ct. are disproportionate to the surrounding states, their adoption fee of only $400.00 is a great value.

If you know what kind of dog you want i.e. pointer, lab, beagle etc. there are breed specific rescues. The Mid-Atlantic German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue www.mdgsprescue.org serves Md., Va., De. And WV.

 Before you can adopt a dog from these breed specific rescues, they really look into your history including how well you have cared for your dogs in the past. The adoption process includes calling your veterinarian to make sure all of your pets have been kept up to date with all their health issues. A phone interview as well as a home check. In some cases, a fenced back yard is required.

The adoption fees for breed specific rescues average $370.00 for a puppy, $300.00 for an adult from 1-8 years and for a senior dog the fee ranges from a donation of any dollar amount up to $150.00.

Remember rescuing a dog is a big responsibility. Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida www.lrrof.org said it best, “This is not an object you are bringing home, it’s a member of your family.” Dogs take time, money, and mostly love. Your love will be returned 10 fold.

The best dog I was ever owned by was a rescued English Pointer. Tia was my best friend for 12 years. I am now owned by two beagle mix litter mates that look nothing a like, and one wired haired jack russell/beagle who by the time she came into my life at seven months was in two different shelters and two homes. She just needed the right home. I told you about the love you will receive from your shelter dogs, well Boo, Sully and Mikey are al laying at my feet as I am writing this.

You have a lot of choices when considering where to get a dog, do yourself a favor and look into shelter dogs. You may just find the dog of a lifetime.