Author: Haley Gibbs
October is “Adopt-A-Dog” month and is the perfect time to consider bringing home your first dog or adding another member to your furry pack. In the US alone, animal shelters take in about 6.3 million pets every year, and close to half are dogs. Most shelters are constantly overburdened and need people with a loving heart to adopt. There are many considerations when thinking about adopting a new four-legged friend, here are a few things to know about adopting a dog.
Why Adopt?
Simply put, you’ll save a life. According to the ASPCA, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized each year. The main cause is that there are too many animals coming into shelters and not enough people adopting. To make matters worse, many of the animals euthanized are used to living with a family and can make a great new pet, however, not enough people are looking to adopt.
Arguably one of the top reasons to adopt is unconditional love. Some people might be nervous about connecting with a shelter dog, but they have so much love to give to their new owner who saved them and will provide unconditional love and connection.
When you decide to adopt, you’ll change an entire dog’s world, and it will cost you less because many times vaccinations and spay/neuter is included in the adoption costs. Check out your local shelter as there are usually different promotions and sponsors that might waive or reduce adoption fees and other associated costs.
What You Should Consider
When you’re ready to adopt, make sure that the entire family is on board and prepared to welcome a new family member. It’s important to find a dog that matches you and your family's lifestyle. Do you live in a small space? Are you an outdoor adventurer? Do you like peace and quiet when at home? These are all important questions to ask yourself about you and your family's lifestyle and habits before you visit a shelter. Knowing your activity level and preferences will give you an idea on the energy level, breed size, and overall demeanor you’re looking for.
Once you go to the shelter and meet your new best friend, make sure to spend time with them before finalizing the adoption.
When you’re ready to bring your new companion home, make sure you have the right supplies that your dog needs that will make your dog feel like part of the family. Set up your dog’s own space so they feel comfortable. A crate and crate mat, bed, leash and collar, toys, and food and treats are just a few of the things you’ll need. Establishing their new home with positive reinforcement is a way to make your new family member comfortable. Our Bully Stick Products are an easy, high-value treat that can be used to entice a dog to explore their new home.
After that, training, healthcare, and exercise, are all new responsibilities for you that you’ll need to address. You can read more about 5 Responsibilities That Come With Adopting a Dog in one of our other posts.
Ways To Help
Is your loving house already at capacity with pets? There are other ways to help! Volunteering and giving are two of those ways. Most shelters are always looking for new volunteers to spend time and care for the animals, and volunteering is a very fulfilling way to help an animal in need. Shelters are always busy, which means they go through their supplies quickly and are always seeking donations. Visit your local shelter’s website to find out what some of their most needed items are, most have an Amazon page for easy purchasing!
If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to adopting a furry friend, fostering a pet is a great option! Fostering is taking a dog or cat from an animal shelter and giving it a temporary home, while adoption means taking on the responsibility full-time. We’ve outlined everything you need to know about fostering a pet in another blog post.
Be a hero today and visit your local animal shelter or rescue group to see what dogs need a loving family.
If you need any special treats and chews to welcome your new pup home, visit our store page!
