Shelters and Humane Societies
Shelters and Humane Societies
Penny de los Santos/Pool/Associated Press
A shelter or your local humane society can be good places to find a dog to suit your needs. The range of choices will be large — young or mature, furry or sleek, big or small, or any of the other criteria important to you. But it's best to visit a shelter only after you have a good sense of what you are looking for.
Many dogs come with a history, and if they know it, the shelter staff will be happy to share with you. For example, if they know a dog has been abandoned or abused, they can pretty much tell you what you are getting and explain the behavioral problems you may have to overcome.
- Ask the staff enough about the dog to make sure that he will fit well into your life.
- If you have other pets at home, ask if the new dog has ever lived with other animals and how he is doing in the shelter.
- If you have youngsters, take them with you to help choose the dog.
- Check that the dog you are bringing home is in good health and has had his shots on time. There is nothing more heartbreaking than bringing home a puppy from a shelter, only to discover soon afterward that he has come down with a preventable but fatal disease such as distemper or parvovirus.
- Check into the possible breed-related conditions, such as the skin allergies of the West Highland white terriers, to which your dog may be prone.
Don't rush through the selection process. It will take an hour, maybe more, for you to cover all the bases. Hold off on falling in love with your dog until you're sure that everything has been checked and double-checked, and that you are right for one another.
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