When you are choosing a dog to have as a pet, a great starting place is your local animal shelter. There are so many wonderful animals that are given up for adoption for a variety of different reasons and adopting a dog from a shelter can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, both for you and your new dog. Here are just a few of the benefits of adopting a dog from a shelter.
1. Saving a life
One of the major benefits of adopting a dog from a shelter or pound is that fact that you may literally be saving their life. Due to the extreme volume of dogs up for adoption, shelters struggle to cope with the numbers, and many healthy dogs are euthanized. The more people who choose adoption over buying from breeders means fewer dogs in shelters and fewer unnecessary deaths. Rescue dogs may be skittish and anxious to start with, as many of them may have been neglected or suffered some kind of trauma. However, with the right home and support, they can grow to be as happy and healthy as any other dog.
2. Training
As lots of shelter dogs are older than puppies, many of them may also already be house-trained. This means you do not have to start from scratch. They may need some refreshing and time to get used to a new home, but they may already have plenty of skills and experience that you can build upon. This helps strengthen your bond with the dog, as you can discover new things together and gain trust. Your dog may also be more used to visiting the vets, such as a Melissa veterinarian clinic, and may feel calmer during these times. It is important to register with a vet as soon as possible to access help and care whenever you need it. Some dogs may also benefit from regular visits to a vet to help them get used to the experience.
3. Variety
Again, due to the volume of dogs in shelters, there is a huge range to choose from. This means that you will be able to find your perfect fit. Many dogs will be older, which means their personalities have already developed, and you may have fewer surprises when you bring them home. Furthermore, this means you can skip the puppy stage if this does not work for you and still be able to give a dog a good home for the remainder of its life. The shelter may have a lot of information about the dog, which allows you to match up with one that will suit your home, requirements, and lifestyle. If a dog has suffered particular trauma that has led to the need for it to be in a shelter, then this can be an extra challenge for an owner. However, if you are an experienced dog owner who is prepared for this type of dog, it can be incredibly rewarding and allow the dog to live in a normal home rather than in an impersonal shelter.
