Millions of puppies and dogs are surrendered to shelters by their owners each year, yet still newspapers, online classifieds and breeder websites are littered with purebred pups for sale. With so many puppies dogs in shelters in need of a loving home, its hard to fathom why people continue to breed and buy purebred.
It is often unfortunate circumstance that brings these puppies and dogs to shelters. An owner may have to surrender their pet due to relocation, health problems or allergies. On the other hand it is all too often that people enter into dog ownership without thoroughly considering the responsibilities they’ll be tasked with, including the cost of ownership, daily duties, recreation, vaccines and health care. Pets are like little children. They’re not just cute little decorations that you pet on occasion.
Oh Wholly Life fully supports selecting your new puppy or dog from local shelters, humane society or rescue organization. However, these pets are fragile. Like orphaned children, they likely feel hurt, neglected and lonely. To take in an adopted pet, it is imperative to be sure you’re ready to take on the challenge.
It’s Not Free
The cost to adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue organization is far more attractive than purchasing a purebred pet. What you must understand is that the cost doesn’t stop there or simply at food. If you’re ready to take on these costs, then you can pass GO and collect pay your $200 adoption fee.
- Adoption Fee
- Food, Treats and Chew Bones
- Vaccines
- Vet Bills and Dental Care
- Spay/Neuter
- Bed
- Bowls
- Collars and Leash
- Training
- Fence (optional)
- Vitamins
- Flea Control
- Heartworm
- Shampoo
- Grooming
- Household Stain Cleaner
- Waste Disposal
- Pet Vacuum
- Training Tools
- Deworming
- Boarding
- Crate
- Car Restraint for travels
- Pet deposits for renters
Finding The Right Dog for You
If you’ve gotten this far, the next step is to visit local shelters and rescue organizations to see the dogs in need of homes. The holidays are a popular time for pet adoptions, as many families consider gifting pets to their children.
Once you’ve visited the events or websites, you should do some research about the dog’s breed(s). More than likely, it will be a mixed breed. Have no fear! Mixed breeds often have fewer health problems than purebred dogs.
However, some breeds need more exercise than others, where others are more child-friendly. Some dogs are more suited for houses with a fenced in yard, though there are also many breeds suited for apartment life. It’s almost as if you’re discovering your dog’s dating profile when you research their breed(s). You want to be sure you’ll have a long, healthy and loving relationship together where you can both nurture each other.
If you’re inactive, you should consider a dog breed that does not need a lot of exercise, though most dogs do need a minimal level activity, similar to humans, to walk for at least 15 minutes per day. If you live in an apartment, you may want to stick with a smaller dog. You should also check your apartment community’s rules and regulations on what types of pets are allowed. Sometimes there are breed restrictions and of course, there are pet deposits.
Some dogs need more grooming than others, which can be costly. Other dogs are more prone to certain illnesses and diseases based on their breed.
There are a wide array of factors to consider. To research your dogs breed properly, you must consider it’s size, coat and grooming, subjectivity to illness and diseases, activity level, protection and territorial guarding habits, breed propensities (what was the dog bred to do? i.e. hunting, highly active, etc.), it’s relationship with children or other pets and it’s trainability.