| Do you ever feel like you know just enough about | | | | surroundings filled with fears based upon earlier |
| dog adoption to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill | | | | mistreatment or the harsh rules of their previous |
| in some of the gaps with the latest info from dog | | | | owners. Some dogs will be reluctant to go from one |
| adoption experts. When considering the birth rates | | | | room to another, will shy away when corrected and |
| among animals, it's not hard to understand why | | | | hide upon hearing a loud noise. New owners must be |
| animal shelters are always filled with animals waiting | | | | patient with them and speak to them softly and |
| to be adopted. Shockingly, it has been calculated that | | | | affectionately. Dogs are not stupid and they will |
| over a seven year period, one female cat and her | | | | gradually come to understand their new environment |
| offspring will produce approximately 420,000 kittens. | | | | and show their appreciation for your loving care. |
| Likewise, one female dog and her offspring will | | | | When contemplating adoption, prospective new |
| produce 67,000 puppies during a six year period. | | | | owners should be prepared to deal with the fact that |
| Since there are more animals looking for homes than | | | | their new adoptee may not be completely |
| there are people who want to adopt them, some 6.5 | | | | housebroken. Previous owners may have been |
| million animals are euthanized each year. Given the | | | | irresponsible in their approach to this training; |
| statistics cited above, adopting an animal can be a | | | | furthermore, when the dog was placed in the shelter |
| kind and loving thing to do. However, before making | | | | it continued to do its "business" right in its pen. |
| the final decision to adopt, there are a number of | | | | Housebreaking is not a complex chore and should not |
| things to consider. Many of the animals awaiting | | | | deter someone from adopting a pet. Some owners |
| adoption in shelters have had very rough beginnings. | | | | will use a cage to assist in this training, while others |
| Some were abused, some abandoned and some | | | | will just take the dog out for a walk several times a |
| were "turned in" because the owners didn't have | | | | day. Fenced yards and doggie doors are minimal |
| time for them. Many were left alone for long periods | | | | expenses that pay extra dividends on cold or rainy |
| and some were never properly potty trained. In | | | | days. Adopted dogs are subject to all of the |
| short, when adopting an animal you must be | | | | behavioral problems commonly associated to dogs in |
| prepared to work with them. They may come to | | | | general. These would include digging, jumping up on |
| you cowed or with feelings of trepidation and may | | | | people, jumping fences, barking and nipping. There |
| be overly sensitive to your tone of voice or to any | | | | are proven solutions to all of these "offenses." If |
| commands you might give them. You will need to be | | | | your dog is prone to digging, and always digs in one |
| patient and by all means, loving. When they finally | | | | area, there are a number of effective repellent |
| realize that they can trust you they will reward you | | | | sprays that work well. If he digs under your fence, a |
| with more affection and loyalty than you can imagine. | | | | little buried chicken wire works wonders in breaking |
| Adopting a dog as a means of entertaining a small | | | | that habit. Spray bottles filled with water should be |
| child is not recommended. A dog is not a toy and | | | | kept at hand to break a dog from jumping up and to |
| should not be treated as one. Small children should be | | | | combat incessant barking. A quick spritz in the face |
| trained to understand "animal etiquette". In other | | | | immediately following, or during, the offensive |
| words, animals are not to be hit, dragged, ridden or | | | | behavior will usually bring about a quick behavior |
| teased. They should understand that being overly | | | | modification. Visiting an animal shelter can be an |
| aggressive with a new dog, especially one recently | | | | emotional experience for an animal lover. It's difficult |
| adopted, could cause the dog to react by biting or | | | | to see all the animals in their pens and not want to |
| running away. If feeding and exercising the dog is to | | | | take them all home. Such feelings are understandable |
| be the responsibility of a child, an adult should follow | | | | and commendable; however, just be sure that prior |
| up to be sure these things are getting done. It isn't | | | | to adoption you consider all of the ramifications. And |
| the dog's fault if a child fails to meet his or her | | | | remember, your best friend is waiting for you at |
| obligations and the dog shouldn't have to suffer for | | | | your local animal shelter. Is there really any |
| the child's failure. If you base what you do on | | | | information about dog adoption that is nonessential? |
| inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly | | | | We all see things from different angles, so something |
| surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get | | | | relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to |
| the whole dog adoption story from informed sources. | | | | another. |
| Many adopted dogs will come to the new | | | | |