How Do I Adopt a Rescued Puppymill Dog?
A puppy mill is a facility that operates for the sole purpose of breeding and selling dogs. Puppy mills have a male and female dog that they breed over and over again, and often house the puppies in harsh conditions where the dogs are not properly cared for. Puppy mill dogs are usually malnourished and suffer from skin conditions, spinal problems, and a number of other ailments. When a puppy mill is discovered by the state and raided, local dog shelters take the puppies in and put them up for adoption, giving you the chance to save a dog in need.
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Instructions
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Decide whether you want a specific dog breed or are willing to take any type of breed. Sometimes, if you or a member of your family suffers from allergies, you may need a hypoallergenic breed of dog. Other reasons you may need a specific breed of dog is if you need a dog that works well with kids or is better for a certain type of home, such as condo. Consider whether you can meet the breed's exercise needs.
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Research the animal rescue centers in your area. If you are looking for a specific breed, look for a rescue group dedicated to that type of dog, such as a Westie or Labrador rescue. Contact each center and tell them you are interested in adopting a puppy mill rescue. Give your name and number and ask them to contact you if they have any dogs that meet your criteria come into their shelter. Most shelters have an application you can fill out and put on file so that when they rescue puppy mill dogs, you will be on their list.
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Contact shelters that rescue puppy mill dogs. Sites such as PuppyMillRescue.com, WolfSpiritsRescue.com and HeartsUnitedforAnimals.com rescue puppy mill dogs, and then work with foster families across the U.S. to house the dogs until they are adopted. These websites feature lists of currently available animals, but it is better to call the shelter in case the animals have not been updated, or they can tell you about an upcoming puppy mill raid.
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Fill out an online application when you have found the dog you want to adopt. Contact the shelter with any questions you may have about the breed, and also to find out any specific rules they have about adoption. For instance, they may require that you are a certain age, or live in a certain kind of home. Some of their criteria may even be breed-specific.
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Arrange a meeting with your puppy before you adopt to make sure you get along with each other. Remember that some puppy mill dogs are neglected and may be underweight or in rough physical condition. Don't let that deter you.
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Speak to the vet that has cared for the dog after the rescue to find out about the dog's physical condition and any ailments it may have. When you adopt this dog, you will be responsible for the physical, emotional, and financial care if it is sick or injured, so it's important you understand everything it has gone through and may experience in the future.
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References
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- Photo Credit puppy image by SKYDIVECOP from Fotolia.com
