How to Adopt a Dog from the Pound

Each year, millions of wonderful dogs are euthanized at the local dog pound or animal shelter simply because no one stepped forward to adopt them. Whether you're looking for a purebred dog or a mixed breed dog, your local dog pound or animal control shelter may have a great family dog waiting just for you. Adopting a dog requires commitment, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car or transportation to the shelter
• Collar and leash
• Approximately $10 to $50 for adoption fees
• Approximately $100 for initial veterinary examination and vaccinations

1. Find your local dog pound, now called the public animal shelter. Look in the telephone book or online for the county animal control office.

2. Call, email or visit the website for the animal control shelter. Ask about adoption policies and costs. Does the shelter provide any vaccinations, spaying or neutering? What are the local laws? Our county, for example, had only a $10 adoption fee but the law required us to spay or neuter the dog within thirty days. The animal control officer even provided us with a veterinarian who would spay the dog for a very low fee.

3. Make an appointment with the dog pound or animal shelter to visit the dogs. Some pounds or shelters have limited visiting hours when prospective adopters can view the animals because they are short staffed. Others have business hours posted.

4. Visit the shelter in person and view as many dogs as possible. Discuss your lifestyle and preferences with a shelter volunteer, worker, or the animal control officer who meets you at the facility. If you're an elderly person living in an apartment, you will most likely want a calm, small dog that is already housebroken. While shelters cannot guarantee temperment or training, the animal control officer or animal shelter volunteers have the time and expertise to evaluate the dogs and may be able to guide you to the best dog that fits your lifestyle.

5. Interact with the dog in an enclosed area and with the animal control officer or shelter worker nearby. Does the dog come when it's called? Does it like to be touched or petted? Does it appear nervous, timid, or rambunctious? Looks aside, does this dog appear to have been socialized with people?

6. Ask about adoption policies. If the dog doesn't work out, can you bring it back? You probably won't get the adoption fee back, but at least you will know that the dog will return to a place that will give it good care and food.

7. Select a dog based on temperment, size and suitability for your lifestyle, not color or pedigree. Remember, adopting a shelter pet or any pet for that matter requires time, money and committment.

8. Inquire about vaccinations, worming, spaying or neutering. Some shelters provide rudimentary vaccinations while others provide nothing. Write down whatever veterinary care the animal has received prior to adoption.

9. Select the dog, complete the paperwork, and pay the requisite fee. Slip on the collar, attach the leash, and take your new dog home. You may wish to bring an old blanket or sheet to cover the backseat of the car in case the dog gets car sick.

Tips & Warnings

• Animal shelter workers want what's best for the dog. Be friendly and ask their advice. Many are great at spotting friendly, sweet dogs that make great pets.
• Be sure to have a veterinarian examine the dog within a day or two of adoption. Get basic vaccinations and discuss spaying or neutering your new pet.
• Watch new pets and gradually introduce new dogs to the household.
• Provide a crate or safe place for the dog once it arrives in your home.
• Do not leave children or your current pets alone with a new shelter adoptee until you are quite sure the dog is calm and safe.
• Be ready for housebreaking if the dog is not housebroken.
• Many dogs do arrive at animal shelters with poor or little training or behavioral problems. While great dogs do await you at the local shelter, experienced dog owners may be more prepared to adopt than novices.
• Always supervise new dogs around children and pets. Never leave them unattended.
• Seek veterinary advice or animal training advice for any behavioral problems.
• Follow local licensing laws and ordinances for new dog adoptions.

[jillbeth]

on 3/24/2009 Excellent tips. There are so many shelter dogs waiting for a loving home!

[Vanessa22]

on 2/3/2009 I think everyone should adopt a shelter dog if they can. There are so many on the euthanasia list every week, it's quite sad. Good article, lots of info!

[JeanneGrunert]

on 8/3/2008 Susan, thanks so much for your kind words. The dog pictured in my article is Shadow. We found her at a Virginia county dog pound. They had over a dozen PUREBRED dogs just waiting for a home. All of our pets, with the exception of our current cat (who was adopted directly from a local family), are shelter rescues. People think they are getting other pet owners' problems and sometimes this is true, but I can attend from working with Shadow that whatever her story, she didn't deserve to be abandoned. She is the best dog I've ever owned!

[Susang6]

on 8/2/2008 How I support you on this article. I have 3 rescued dogs that were abused and 2 shelter dogs, and let's not forget the domesticated Feral cat!
So many people aren't willing to make a life long commitment to their pets, and when things get tough out goes the pet. I can say that shelter dogs make wonderful pets, they so want to please their owners. I think they know they have a 2nd chance at life.
Thank you for writing the article, please link it to digg...this really needs to be viewed by everyone!