Adopting a Rescued Dog
Adopting a rescued pet can be very rewarding for both you and the animal. Each rescued animal has a unique story. Some are found abandoned or injured; others are given to rescue groups or humane societies because the owners can no longer care for them. In every case, the dogs are usually very affectionate and grateful to be in a good home.
Benefits
Beyond the fact that you will feel good, there are many benefits to adopting a rescued animal. Depending on the shelter or group that you get them from, most dogs will be current on all of their vaccinations and will have had a vet visit to verify its health and well being. If it’s an older dog, it will probably be house broken as well.
The Adoption Process
Most rescue groups and some humane societies have an application process that you must go through before you’re approved to adopt an animal. The concern for all of these groups is that they give the animal the best home possible. Some groups are more stringent than others, but you should understand why they go through the trouble of verifying information and home visits. Great care is taken to make sure the dog is placed in a good home with a family that will care for it properly. Some groups will not place dogs in families with very small children or even pools. The dog has typically been mistreated or abandoned already, so the concern is that it isn’t placed in a worse situation. The group usually has time and money invested in each dog with vaccinations, micro chips, and vet care as well.
As an example, we applied to adopt a pug last year through a pug specific rescue group. The first step was completing a detailed application. After filtering the applications, they wanted to verify the vet records that we had on our existing dog. Once that was confirmed, they came to our home with the puppy to make sure the conditions were appropriate. It was also a good chance to see the interaction between our puggle and the puppy. After they completed all of the applications, verified vet records, and visited the families, they determined that we were the best fit for the puppy, named Peyton. (Who turned out to be a peke-pug.)
When you adopt, you should understand that you will typically have to sign a contract with specific terms. A common clause in an adoption contract is that you agree to return the dog to the group if you can no longer take care of it for any reason. They will not think any less of you for doing so, and they normally have a list of people who are looking for adoptable dogs.
Considerations
When thinking about adopting a rescued dog, you need to consider what you are looking for. Most rescued animals are full grown, and there are rarely puppies. In some cases, adoptable dogs may be handicapped in some way. (Deaf, blind, etc.) Some of these dogs will require a little more attention, so you should know ahead of time what you are willing to accept. These dogs may require more vet care, too, so be sure to ask the group about their special needs. There are also dogs that have been turned in because their previous owner thought they were aggressive. In situations like this, most groups will conduct their own tests to determine whether they consider the dog aggressive. There are a lot of circumstances where the environment will make a dog act aggressively when he really isn’t by nature. Most dogs of this type are easily rehabilitated if needed.
Another consideration is time. Although the dog might be an adult and house broken, it might take a while for them to get accustomed to their new accommodations. You should plan on spending a lot of time with the dog in the first few weeks so you can form a good relationship early on. This bonding time is important in any pet adoption.
Advantages
Adopting a mature dog definitely has some advantages. Most will already be house broken, so you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time potty training your new companion. Many veterinarians offer discounts for rescued dogs, so it may help to call your local clinics. Since the majority of rescue groups and humane societies promote and practice pet population control, most rescued dogs are already spayed or neutered, as well as being caught up on all vaccinations. Some groups will even microchip their dogs before being adopted out. Adopting a mature dog will give you the chance to see what their personality is before bringing them home. (With a puppy, you never know how their personality will develop.)
Conclusion
Adopting a rescued dog can be very rewarding and fulfilling. Knowing that you are saving a dog from a harmful situation is satisfying to say the least.
