| Many people feel that they must go to a breeder to | | | | If a person feels he or she can't possibly rescue |
| get a pet because they want to know exactly what | | | | anything but a puppy, it would be interesting to take |
| they're getting into with their new family member. | | | | a look at the benefits of rescuing a dog. For starters, |
| These people feel that they can't adopt a puppy | | | | many dogs will come house trained and with some |
| from the pound or the SPCA because these places | | | | basic obedience skills in place. The agony over coming |
| don't have a history of the dog and can't identify | | | | home to find molding pulled off the walls is much less |
| what type of dog it is. For these people, there are | | | | likely to occur if a dog is adopted after it is done |
| breed-specific rescue groups. | | | | teething. |
| Breed specific rescue groups are animal rescue | | | | Another benefit is that a full grown dog cannot |
| groups that take in specific types of dogs. They | | | | surprise its new family when it keeps growing. While |
| focus on taking in a breed from a variety of sources. | | | | it is true that big paws typically yield big dogs, it is |
| Some of the dogs are owner surrendered or even | | | | never quite possible to tell just how big a dog will get |
| taken from pounds. These groups will be able to tell a | | | | by its paws alone. A puppy is capable of shocking a |
| person what to expect from a dog prior to its | | | | new family and requiring much more room than |
| adoption. | | | | expected. |
| As a consequence of being much more choosy in | | | | A third benefit of adopting a dog over a puppy is |
| which dogs to take in, breed rescue groups have | | | | that the dog already has its shots. In addition, that |
| higher adoption fees than the local SPCA or pound | | | | dog is probably already altered as rescue groups and |
| does. While this may seem silly, it makes sense. A | | | | other animal adoption agencies realize that there are |
| person going to a breed specific rescue group is | | | | way too many dogs running around already to let |
| probably willing to pay at least the adoption fee in | | | | accident puppies be born. This is a set of expenses a |
| the price of a brand new puppy. | | | | new dog family will not have to incur. |