| When looking for your next dog, you have a few | | | | processes of getting to know you, your family |
| choices. You can contact a breeder, go to the | | | | and the living situation for the dog, so as to avoid |
| pound or animal shelter, or find a breed-specific | | | | having the dog becoming homeless again. There |
| dog rescue organization in your area. | | | | are questionnaires, and upon completing those, |
| Breeders, like all things, come in good and bad | | | | you and your family are usually invited to visit the |
| varieties. First, you'll have to pay for your puppy, | | | | dog at the foster home. When that is completed, |
| ranging anywhere from $200-$5000, depending on | | | | the foster home or a volunteer coordinator from |
| breed. Second, just because you pay the highest | | | | the dog rescue will visit your home to make sure |
| price, it doesn't mean you will get a good, healthy | | | | it's suitable for owning a dog. Then, a visit with |
| puppy. Lastly, many breeders have worse return | | | | the dog in tow will happen, to make sure that the |
| policies than shelters. | | | | dynamics between the dog and your family are |
| The animal shelters are a popular option. Most are | | | | just right. If and when all of this is completed and |
| dogs who were lost, or in some cases, which in | | | | the result is satisfactory will the rescue |
| and of itself means that you do not know their | | | | organization adopt a dog to you. |
| history. In some cases, the dogs were given up | | | | Puppies are available at dog rescues more often |
| by their owners, but oftentimes, it was for a | | | | than animal shelters, but keep in mind there is a |
| reason the owners do not divulge to the shelters. | | | | long list of pre-screened homes waiting for that |
| The cost of acquiring a dog from a pound is | | | | puppy. It's best to get on that list early if your |
| usually very low ($30-$100, depending on | | | | mind is set on getting only a puppy. Young or |
| municipality), but your chances of finding a | | | | young adult dogs are readily available, though the |
| purebred dog there is much lower, and finding a | | | | exact age of the dog is sometimes unknown. |
| puppy is even harder. Most of the time, if shelters | | | | Adult dogs are almost always available, and |
| have puppies available, it's because they took in a | | | | sometimes, mature dogs that need a calm home |
| pregnant stray dog, which means the sire of that | | | | in which to live out their remaining years are |
| litter is probably a different breed from the dam - | | | | available, and make the best pets. The final |
| meaning, you have a mixed breed dog (mutt). | | | | decision of which dog is most suited to your life, |
| The biggest drawback to owning a "mutt" is that | | | | though, is made by the dog rescue. |
| there really is no way to predict what type of an | | | | Having said all that, the majority of dogs are |
| adult dog it will turn out to be; even size is hard | | | | homeless for two reasons. The first reason is |
| to predict. The dam may have been | | | | that bad breeders produce awful puppies that |
| medium-sized, but 7 months later, you may find | | | | naturally turn into awful dogs. As is the case with |
| that your young dog is making most Great Danes | | | | people, bad genes cannot be helped. The second |
| look puny and need 2 hours of exercise per day. | | | | reason is that owning a dog is not for everyone, |
| Everything about animal shelter dogs are | | | | and many, many unqualified homes attempt it, |
| unknown. | | | | and eventually fail. With many breeders not taking |
| You do, however, get to pick and choose which | | | | back their own puppies or due to being ashamed |
| dog you want, and the shelter will usually let you | | | | of having to return the puppy - many homes will |
| take that dog home for a nominal fee. That is the | | | | dump what may be a perfectly good dog to |
| main perk and drawback of animal shelters | | | | shelters. This second chance saves the life of the |
| because oftentimes, the family is the least suited | | | | dog, and it's not surprising that the dog rescue will |
| of all to make that decision, especially if a 4 year | | | | go to all lengths to ensure that the dog's next |
| old points and chooses which dog he/she thinks is | | | | home is his/her last. |
| the perfect dog. | | | | If you find yourself considering the notion of |
| Then there are the dog rescue organizations. As | | | | adding a dog to your family, you must first look |
| mentioned, dog rescues generally focus on | | | | into which breed is right for your family and |
| "rescuing" particular breeds but considering many | | | | lifestyle, then contacting your local dog rescue |
| of them are "rescued" from the pounds a day or | | | | focused on that particular breed to see what |
| two prior to euthanasia, the same applies - history | | | | they have available is a good idea. They will know |
| of the dog is often unknown. The greatest upside | | | | more about every single dog they have than any |
| to adopting a dog from a dog rescue is that most | | | | shelter will, and if that particular dog or breed is |
| are kept in foster homes until more is known | | | | not right for you, they will let you know. |
| about the dog. Good dog rescues will generally | | | | Deciding to bring a dog into your life is a big |
| focus on that dog to learn as much about him to | | | | decision. But if and when you make this decision |
| match the right family up with the dog by using | | | | and have committed to taking care of a dog for |
| "foster homes" that spend a considerable amount | | | | the rest of its life, utilizing dog rescues to save a |
| of time getting to know the dog. | | | | dog who needs a home is one of the best ways |
| Dog rescues, though, will generally not adopt out | | | | to go about bringing a good dog into your life. |
| dogs to just anyone. Many have rigorous | | | | |