I grew up in a small rural town where dogs were always outside animals. So when my wife wanted to get a small indoor dog (we had always had cats) I was dead set against it. She nagged me to go to a shelter with her where we met our little dachshund. Fell in love with her. It took about a week for them to do a background check on us and we went to visit her everyday while we waited. Please folks, don’t be as foolish as I was. Go to a shelter and adopt a friend (adult dogs are better than puppies IMHO).
We just put put down our 12 year old adopted husky. It was two when we got it and it was very well behaved (except for escaping, which is what huskies do). At first it would shy away when we tried to pet his head, but he learned we weren’t going to hit. It’s been a really sad week.
The advantages of a rescue dog: 1. They are house broken. Well, all of them aren’t, but you can only adopt them if they are. 2. They are cheaper, if you go to a dog pound they’re almost free. 3. They have already gotten all the vet care they need, and that can get expensive. 4. You know their medical history. People selling dogs may try to hide defects, the vet doesn’t. 5. You can feel like you’re doing a good thing. 6. If you’re older, or expect to have to move to an apartment in a few years for another reason, you can get a dog that will probably last about as long as you’d like them to. 7. If you miscalculate and need to get rid of the dog sooner than expected, most rescue organizations will let you return them to them. 8. You know what you are getting personality wise. If you want a shy quiet dog, choose the one that’s slow to warm up. If you want Cujo, you can find him. (Too bad we can’t choose kids after they are out of their teenage years).
Most shelter dogs are there due to behavior problems. Be prepared to commit time, energy and money to training. Take any dog, shelter or purchased, to your own vet for a second opinion as to its health. Study dog breeds to understand what you are going to live with for the next 10+ years. There is no guarantee, shelter or purchased, that you won’t have problems when bringing a dog into your home so be prepared to deal with them in a responsible manner.
Concerned about all the negative remarks about shelter dogs. Have only cats and they have all been rescue. No problems that a lot of love didn’t fix. Could be mind set of humans going to having a rescue might make a difference. Would hate to think that most shelter dogs are lost causes. Too many need good forever homes. Will continue to think good thoughts and hope that most pairings work out perfect.
Sorry, but sometimes a specific breed is what’s needed and you can’t be sure a shelter will have one. Consider people who are allergic to dogs and want one. They have to buy Portuguese water dogs. Reputable, caring breeders are just as valid a source for dogs as shelters.
Dani Rice: The Samoan ainga (extended family of all with a common living ancestor) is a solution. The kid can live with aunt and uncle for awhile, parents and children get a break from each other, but the family unit is still intact.
My new dog is a rescue from a kill shelter. She’s 8 years old. Her old owner died and no one in the family wanted her so they took her to a shelter that kills unclaimed dogs after 5 days. A rescue group got her out and she’s lived in a cage since November. She needs some socialization but other than that and some arthritis she’s a great little dog.
All shelter dogs are not neurotic. The ones from animal hoarders are some of the worst, though. Very few animals are at my county shelter for behavioral issues.
Shelter dogs are housebroken – except when they are the excitable type(that have loose bowels in those situations). This can make a sweet inside rescue dog into an outside dog – especially when the shelter won’t take them back or guilts your wife and kids into keeping them. It took me 20 years to have a dog I loved – what a waste of time keeping a reject and not having a pet I could love.
Helen Ferrieux over 9 years ago
Make a donation to the animal shelter please. I’ve always found that people take more care of something (whatever it is) if they’ve paid for it!
Retired Dude over 9 years ago
I grew up in a small rural town where dogs were always outside animals. So when my wife wanted to get a small indoor dog (we had always had cats) I was dead set against it. She nagged me to go to a shelter with her where we met our little dachshund. Fell in love with her. It took about a week for them to do a background check on us and we went to visit her everyday while we waited. Please folks, don’t be as foolish as I was. Go to a shelter and adopt a friend (adult dogs are better than puppies IMHO).
P51Strega over 9 years ago
We just put put down our 12 year old adopted husky. It was two when we got it and it was very well behaved (except for escaping, which is what huskies do). At first it would shy away when we tried to pet his head, but he learned we weren’t going to hit. It’s been a really sad week.
Plods with ...™ over 9 years ago
Koko’s right.
Diane Lee Premium Member over 9 years ago
The advantages of a rescue dog: 1. They are house broken. Well, all of them aren’t, but you can only adopt them if they are. 2. They are cheaper, if you go to a dog pound they’re almost free. 3. They have already gotten all the vet care they need, and that can get expensive. 4. You know their medical history. People selling dogs may try to hide defects, the vet doesn’t. 5. You can feel like you’re doing a good thing. 6. If you’re older, or expect to have to move to an apartment in a few years for another reason, you can get a dog that will probably last about as long as you’d like them to. 7. If you miscalculate and need to get rid of the dog sooner than expected, most rescue organizations will let you return them to them. 8. You know what you are getting personality wise. If you want a shy quiet dog, choose the one that’s slow to warm up. If you want Cujo, you can find him. (Too bad we can’t choose kids after they are out of their teenage years).
Hilarow over 9 years ago
Most shelter dogs are there due to behavior problems. Be prepared to commit time, energy and money to training. Take any dog, shelter or purchased, to your own vet for a second opinion as to its health. Study dog breeds to understand what you are going to live with for the next 10+ years. There is no guarantee, shelter or purchased, that you won’t have problems when bringing a dog into your home so be prepared to deal with them in a responsible manner.
Ppyfss over 9 years ago
Concerned about all the negative remarks about shelter dogs. Have only cats and they have all been rescue. No problems that a lot of love didn’t fix. Could be mind set of humans going to having a rescue might make a difference. Would hate to think that most shelter dogs are lost causes. Too many need good forever homes. Will continue to think good thoughts and hope that most pairings work out perfect.
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member over 9 years ago
My girl is a re-home.Still, a rescue. I stopped her from going to the shelter.
bdaverin over 9 years ago
Sorry, but sometimes a specific breed is what’s needed and you can’t be sure a shelter will have one. Consider people who are allergic to dogs and want one. They have to buy Portuguese water dogs. Reputable, caring breeders are just as valid a source for dogs as shelters.
hippogriff over 9 years ago
Dani Rice: The Samoan ainga (extended family of all with a common living ancestor) is a solution. The kid can live with aunt and uncle for awhile, parents and children get a break from each other, but the family unit is still intact.
Jennifer Kendzior over 9 years ago
My new dog is a rescue from a kill shelter. She’s 8 years old. Her old owner died and no one in the family wanted her so they took her to a shelter that kills unclaimed dogs after 5 days. A rescue group got her out and she’s lived in a cage since November. She needs some socialization but other than that and some arthritis she’s a great little dog.
All shelter dogs are not neurotic. The ones from animal hoarders are some of the worst, though. Very few animals are at my county shelter for behavioral issues.
route66paul over 9 years ago
Shelter dogs are housebroken – except when they are the excitable type(that have loose bowels in those situations). This can make a sweet inside rescue dog into an outside dog – especially when the shelter won’t take them back or guilts your wife and kids into keeping them. It took me 20 years to have a dog I loved – what a waste of time keeping a reject and not having a pet I could love.