Should You Adopt a Dog?My kids want a dog very badly, but it is simply out of the question for us at this point. I told them that we can get one some day, and when we do, we will adopt a dog, if we can find the right one. There are plenty of places to buy dogs, but I would prefer to rescue one that has lost its home - as long as it is a good fit for our family. Many children ask for dogs as pets, and if you are in this situation, you might want to consider doing the same thing. When thinking about adopting a dog, however, there are some important things you should keep in mind in regards to choosing the right one. Be sure to think about the ages of your children when you adopt a dog. Not all breeds do well with children. And, unfortunately, you cannot always go by breed. The age of your kids, the age of the dog and many other factors can play a role in how well your new pet will get along with your family.
When it comes to getting your new pet, I highly suggest visiting your local animal shelter. These shelters are great at determining what type of family each dog is suited for. That means they can tell you which one will do well with your children and which ones might not have the temperament to deal with the 'excessive amounts of love' that children sometimes like to give a pet. Another great thing about opting to adopt a dog from a shelter is that they usually have already been checked by a veterinarian. The dogs should all be up to date on shots, and may have even been spayed or neutered. Don't misunderstand me - you most likely will have to pay for a dog you get from a shelter, but the cost will cover the exam and shots and things you're going to want done anyway (and you will usually pay less for these items than if you were to get them done on your own). If the dog has an illness, they will already know about it, and they will never knowingly give you a pet that is sick or has any issues without making you aware of these issues first. You may find that some of these shelters want to check you out, as well, before they allow you to adopt a dog. This is done to make sure you have the right home and circumstances to care for a dog properly. They may ask you all types of questions, and may want to know if you live in a house or apartment, if you have any children, how old those children are, whether you have any other pets, if you've had other dogs in the past, etc. They may want to know if you plan to keep the dog inside or out, if you have a fenced yard, if you would be using the dog for hunting, and all kinds of other questions that could protect their dogs from ending up with the wrong family. It might seem like a lot to go through to adopt a dog, but when you do, you know you are getting a great pet that really matches your lifestyle. In addition, you could very well be saving a dog's life! So many animals are abandoned or lost these days, that most will never find new homes. Thousands of dogs have to be euthanized because of this overload. So, instead of buying a dog that will profit someone (or some puppy mill), save a life - adopt a dog today! - Submitted by Ann McKay
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