Just about every city and town across the nation has animal shelters, where you can choose a loving, caring pet that needs a new home. These dog adoption centers may benefit non-profit pet service organizations like the Humane Society, or they may be private non-profits that rescue specific breeds. All of these centers have one thing in common. They love animals and they hope to find them the best homes possible.
What should you look for when you choose a dog from dog adoption centers?
1. Make sure the facility and the pens are clean, with proper amounts of food and water for the dogs. If the facility is not clean and fresh, the animals could be suffering from diseases, pests, or other problems, and you might be stuck with high vet bills to clear up these problems.
2. Find out what types of services they offer, such as neutering and micro-chipping the dog before they adopt them out. Many dog adoption centers now perform many of these services as part of the adoption fee, so it makes sense to adopt from a center that offers the most services for the dog you plan to adopt.
3. Ask about others who have adopted from the center and their satisfaction. If the adoption center can't provide a few people as references, it may not be the right dog adoption center for you.
4. Ask about fees, and guarantees up front. How much do they charge to adopt a dog, and do they guarantee the health of the dog? Do they know the background of the dog, and why it was surrendered for adoption? If not, the dog may have behavioral issues that are more than you can handle as an owner.
5. Look for a dog adoption center that asks a lot of questions of you, the prospective owner, too. Good dog adoption centers screen potential pet owners to make sure you're ready and able to care for a new pet.
The best dog adoption centers have good local reputations, and truly care about the health and well being of the dogs they adopt out. They should check your background and pet knowledge before you adopt, so be prepared to answer questions about the size of your home and yard, how many pets you own, how long you've owned pets, and other things that are relevant to the health and happiness of your new pet.
Don't choose dog adoption centers by fee only. Be sure to check out the reputation of the center, where their money goes, and how many animals they have ready for adoption. Some centers may charge lower fees, but may not offer as much for your adoption dollar. The best centers offer spaying or neutering, microchips for identification, a clean bill of health, and even free food or other incentives when you adopt. Others only offer spaying or neutering, or discount coupons for you to have your new dog spayed or neutered at a local vet. Make sure you get the best value for your adoption dollar, and know that the money will be well spent helping more dogs who need loving, caring homes.
What should you look for when you choose a dog from dog adoption centers?
1. Make sure the facility and the pens are clean, with proper amounts of food and water for the dogs. If the facility is not clean and fresh, the animals could be suffering from diseases, pests, or other problems, and you might be stuck with high vet bills to clear up these problems.
2. Find out what types of services they offer, such as neutering and micro-chipping the dog before they adopt them out. Many dog adoption centers now perform many of these services as part of the adoption fee, so it makes sense to adopt from a center that offers the most services for the dog you plan to adopt.
3. Ask about others who have adopted from the center and their satisfaction. If the adoption center can't provide a few people as references, it may not be the right dog adoption center for you.
4. Ask about fees, and guarantees up front. How much do they charge to adopt a dog, and do they guarantee the health of the dog? Do they know the background of the dog, and why it was surrendered for adoption? If not, the dog may have behavioral issues that are more than you can handle as an owner.
5. Look for a dog adoption center that asks a lot of questions of you, the prospective owner, too. Good dog adoption centers screen potential pet owners to make sure you're ready and able to care for a new pet.
The best dog adoption centers have good local reputations, and truly care about the health and well being of the dogs they adopt out. They should check your background and pet knowledge before you adopt, so be prepared to answer questions about the size of your home and yard, how many pets you own, how long you've owned pets, and other things that are relevant to the health and happiness of your new pet.
Don't choose dog adoption centers by fee only. Be sure to check out the reputation of the center, where their money goes, and how many animals they have ready for adoption. Some centers may charge lower fees, but may not offer as much for your adoption dollar. The best centers offer spaying or neutering, microchips for identification, a clean bill of health, and even free food or other incentives when you adopt. Others only offer spaying or neutering, or discount coupons for you to have your new dog spayed or neutered at a local vet. Make sure you get the best value for your adoption dollar, and know that the money will be well spent helping more dogs who need loving, caring homes.
