Should I adopt a dog or purchase one?
December 15th, 2009
When looking for a new family member there are two places one could look. Either adopt a dog from the pound/rescue or purchasing a dog from a reputable breeder. A dog from the pound can be just as loving as a purchased puppy. There are many pure bred dogs at the pound for those who prefer such as well as puppies and mixed breeds. Dog breed specific rescues are also a great place to find pets. There are way more dogs out there than there are loving homes to keep them and there is no way to not find the perfect dog for you.
With so many dogs at the local pound or humane society, I sincerely hope that when looking for a new dog this is a viable option. Some advantages of adopting a dog from the pound are low costs and saving a life! Dogs from pounds usually come fixed, deloused and microchipped. They usually have been through temperament screening and have been evaluated by a medical professional. These services alone for me have cost about three hundred dollars. At my local humane society, dogs are adopted for only 65 dollars. Not to mention they always have puppies!
A related option for those who know what type of dog they want is national breed rescues. Doing a quick google search of the breed of dog and the word “rescue” will probably yield some results. A few breed rescues I’m familiar with are the French Bull Dog Rescue Network and the National Brussels Griffon Rescue. All of their dogs come fixed and rehabilitated. Dogs that are surrendered to either of these programs are fostered in homes where they are medically fixed up and taught basic doggy manners, until they are deemed ready to be sent to their forever homes. Breed rescues are an excellent place to adopt great dogs. The people who run these programs are passionate about holistic dog welfare and their breed in particular. They go the extra mile to make sure the dogs are happy and healthy before finding them perfect screened homes. It’s obvious that these people save dogs out of love as they reap no monetary benefits themselves.
Lastly, we will address purchasing a dog. Stop! Don’t buy that pet store puppy! Buyer beware. There is nothing known about the history of a pet store puppy and buyers may be in for more than they expected. Buying a new puppy is much more intensive than adoption. When finding a puppy for purchase the first question is what breed to buy. Do research into the breed before committing to a puppy. Many people buy dogs with unrealistic expectations. The breed characteristics are not just useless facts that can be ignored. If these traits are ignored prepare for an unhappy household and a frustrated dog. Choosing a breed is well worth some extra effort.
Once one finds the perfect breed of dog, the next step is to research what a good and healthy specimen is. Find out what types of common genetic health problems affects the breed and what the breed should look like.
After becoming fully acquainted with the breed standards, begin the search for a breeder. This search can be long and arduous. Do not settle for a back yard breeder who knows nothing about the breed, its health problems, its personality, its standards. Do not settle for someone who is not willing to take full responsibility for a puppy if it needs to find a new home or develops a life altering problem. Do not settle for someone who breeds unscrupulously and does not work for the betterment of the dogs. A good breeder will almost always have a written contract and will rigorously ask a prospective owner about their personal lives! If they don’t ask any questions and just want the cash, RUN!
Choosing a good breeder and consequently healthy puppies can prevent future health and temperament problems. Health problems from poorly bred puppies can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars and an equal amount of heartache.
As a good breeder should ask questions into the future situation of their puppies, a good owner should ask questions about their future puppy. When looking for a dog for a pet as opposed to a show dog the expectations of a dog that meets all standards can be relaxed but the standards for the dog’s health should be held high. Common genetic diseases should be screened for as well as for physical defect. Choosing a dog with a reputable registration is also encouraged. A new puppy registered with the AKC is eligible for a free year of health insurance and the AKC also conducts audits of its breeders facility. There are many more considerations when looking for a breeder that will be covered in future posts.
As a concerned dog lover, I hope that people begin to ethically purchase dogs and rescue as many dogs as possible. My next dog will be a rescue from the Brussels Griffon rescue network. Hopefully, many of you will follow suit in the rescuing business!
