Adopt A Shelter Dog

Adopt A Shelter Dog  – October National Month

It’s not widely known but October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. So if you are looking for a new best friend, there’s no better time to visit your local shelter.

Keep in mind that a dog in a shelter is probably not at its best. Imagine for a second being  removed from your family and locked up in a cage. The emotional trauma that comes with that could get the best of any dogs. While some dogs have to be trained and need  more  attention than others, with a little bit of loving tender care they mostly all blossom and enrich the life of their new family.

Here are a few adoption stories that will make you smile

- Kikko  a little black lab cross was driving everyone crazy. It was non stop barking. Even though he was very cute, when visitors came to the shelter to see  the dogs they usually stayed away from his cage. Who wants to take a barky dog home?.

It was Good Friday in beautiful Victoria BC and the staff and volunteers had decided to take as many dogs as possible for a long walk by the beach for the afternoon. A long story short, Kikko ended up being part of the trip. He started barking at  the beginning of the walk as usual. Timba was only a year old at the time and very playful. She went over and initiated some play with him. He responded right away with no hesitation. The SPCA had a foster program in place. I ended up taking Kikko home that night. He was a pure delight. Well trained, well mannered it only took a few days to find him a home.

- Bear a gorgeous white Malamute was getting aggressive towards over dogs. He had  been  at the shelter for over  one year now. At 1o years old his chances of being adopted were pretty small. Yet he was healthy, good looking and still full of life. Carla was working at the shelter and decided to take him home every night to give him a break. She was a little worried, she had 2 dogs at home but she really wanted to give Bear a chance to get adopted. The first couple of nights were a little difficult. But she quickly find out that Bear was very laid back, great off leash and responded very well to command and ended up getting along great with her dogs. While on a walk on the week end, someone saw him and fell in love with him.

- Max

Why People Give Up Their Dog

In a recent study conducted by the National Council on Pet Population, researchers surveyed people turning animals in to 12 various shelters around the country to try to find our exactly why animals end up there. The study was published in the current issue of the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, and can be seen at The ASPCA’s Web site.  The study’s researchers reviewed reasons why people gave up their dogs up for adoption, and found the following frequency of answers:

29% surrendered their dogs due to behavior problems
29% surrendered their dogs because of the family’s housing situation
25% surrendered their dogs citing incompatibility with the family’s lifestyle
15% surrendering their dogs due to the family’s preparation and/or expectations

Are You Ready To Bring A Dog Into Your Life

The ASPCA advises people considering bringing a canine companion into their lives should completely review their lifestyle. The following five questions can help determine your readiness:

1 – Am I ready to make a long-term commitment? Adopting a pet means being responsible for it’s health and happiness for the rest of his or her life, which could be up to 15 years for dogs.

2- Is the animal right for my household? A strong, active pet may be too much for a young child or elderly person to handle. Small pets may be too delicate for rough play with children. Always make sure that everyone in the household agrees to adopt an animal.

3- Who will be the primary caretaker for the animal? One adult in the home should be designated as the primary caretaker so that the pet’s needs do not become lost in the shuffle of busy schedules.

4 – Can I afford the animal? The cost of a pet is more than just the purchase price or adoption fee; remember to include the cost of food, pet supplies, veterinarian bills and training.

5 – Am I ready to commit to making this dog a good canine citizen? A well-trained dog is a pleasure and is welcome in public parks, on walks, and as a visitor. Research shows that people who take the time to train their dogs are more likely to keep them longer than people who don’t.
If you are considering a new fur-baby, consider adopting a shelter dog!

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