Skipping the Pet Stores

Adding a new dog to the family is a great idea if you’re ready for the care and commitment – and fun and love – that comes with a great pet. Whether you’re buying your first family dog or another to add to the mix, we hope that you’ll skip the pet store and head to the shelter. Adopt, don’t buy, your next dog. And we’re using “dog” purposely. Most people want cute, adorable puppies, but older dogs make wonderful pets, and you may be lucky enough to get one who is past the chewing, jumping, peeing in the house stage, and is ready to relax with the family. But pup or dog, here is why shelters are great places to find your new best friend:

• Many people think that shelter dogs are dangerous strays who were roaming the streets looking for people to bite before they were taken to the shelter. But dogs come to the shelter for any number of reasons. Maybe his elderly owner couldn’t care for him anymore; maybe an owner was moving for a new job and couldn’t take his beloved pet; maybe a dog owner moved in with someone who was allergic; maybe an energetic dog was too much for someone to handle. None of these reasons involve the dog being “bad,” or violent or unmanageable.
• Some people don’t want mutts. This is sad. Some of the best dogs are mixed-breeds. But if that’s your prejudice, consider that forty percent of dogs in shelters are purebred dogs. That’s right.
• Where do you think some pet stores get their dogs? Yup, the pound. Skip the middle man and help a dog out.
• Your new pet will have all of his vaccinations and will be spayed or neutered before you take him home. Your adoption fee covers this, and the fee is certainly less than you would pay in a pet store.
• We can’t speak for all people who work at animal shelters, but we’ve seen those that walk the dogs, play with them, talk to them, and even bring them home on occasion. They interact with the animals, which helps socialize the dogs. Do pet stores do this?
• You’re getting a pet, and you’re saving a dog. Adopting a pet is something you can feel good about. We all wonder how we can impact the world; you can definitely impact a dog’s life by choosing to go to a shelter.

As with any pet you’re taking into your home, you need to make sure that the dog is comfortable with you and you are comfortable with him. Take time to visit, walk him, play with him. You will find that there are a lot of lovable, kind, gentle, dogs waiting for you.