Adopting a pet from a shelter can be a life-altering experience for both the human and their furry companion. By bringing home adoptable puppies from one’s area, one ensures that one’s pet friend is exposed to a potentially better living environment. Shelter home puppies often come from challenging situations, and adoption provides them the love, stability, and care they need. Besides, adoption helps prevent overcrowding in shelter homes, ensuring better comfort for the other puppies.
Reasons to adopt puppies and dogs from shelter homes
Finding local puppies near one’s area for adoption is one of the best ways to give a homeless pet a second chance while supporting ethical animal care.
1. Help for the pet
Adopting a dog or a puppy facilitates an opportunity to improve their quality of life by providing a safe home, a loving family, and a fresh beginning. Besides, it also helps the shelter support another dog or puppy after a pet has been adopted. It is important to note that people looking for pet adoption can also avail of fee-waived pet adoptions. Here, free puppies or dogs are available for adoption in shelters. Additionally, adoption reduces the demand for unethical practices where dogs are bred in unfavorable conditions. Shelter puppies are often well-bred and looked after, which means they are less likely to inherit health problems from their environment or other pets at the center.
2. Training and development
One of the common reasons why many dogs or puppies end up in shelters is because their previous owners were unable to find friendly housing or because they could no longer afford to provide necessary care. This makes it easy to find middle-aged to older dogs for adoption at shelters. Often, such dogs are trained, especially when it comes to basics such as potty training. Pet owners will have to invest more time and effort in training a puppy compared to an adult dog, but those who are willing to take up the challenge can shape up their pet companion’s development from an early age.
While adjusting to a new living environment after adoption, both dogs and puppies may need some time to get used to routines. They may often face troubles and issues while doing so. When training a puppy, pet parents should adjust their schedule and form a routine to take their newly adopted pet for timely bathroom breaks. If confused, one can speak to a vet regarding the frequency of walking and bathroom breaks, as well as other habits that one can incorporate into the pet’s routine.
3. Long-term companionship
People who want to adopt puppies in their area will get a chance to enjoy a longer journey of pet companionship. One can visit shelter homes in one’s area to check for any newborns that could be adopted. They can even let the facility know about their willingness to adopt a puppy so the agency can contact them in case they take in any new pet. Puppies bring an air of energy and enthusiasm with them; by adopting them, one can closely observe their transition into adulthood and play a part in molding their behavior. The only catch is one needs to remain patient throughout the process.
4. Adopt a breed of choice
Often, one will be able to find a wide variety of breeds, both puppies and adult dogs, in a shelter home. If one is looking for a specific breed like Chihuahuas, Labradoodles, full-blooded Bulldogs, Huskies, and more, one just needs to contact adopting agencies nearby to check the available breeds. Besides, shelter homes also look after mixed-breed pets. Such agencies can help new pet parents identify and get a better understanding of the different breeds they are looking after so that they can make an informed decision.
5. Fully screened dogs
Most shelter homes these days microchip the dogs and puppies they look after. This helps them keep track of or locate the pet if it ever wanders off. If a dog is lost on a walk or wanders off, the chip can come in handy. If a pet parent finds that their puppy or dog is not microchipped, then they can consider having one installed by a vet. The installation is inexpensive, and the procedure is easy. It keeps the dog or puppy linked to their new environment, providing peace of mind to the pet owner.
6. Cheaper than purchasing
Adoption costs at shelter homes for dogs and other pets are typically low. Based on the dog’s age, breed, and health, the charge for adoption may vary. Puppies are costlier than adopting an adult dog, and similarly, purebred ones are costlier than mixed breeds. If one comes across a shelter that is full to its capacity, chances are the center will offer a significant discount on pet adoption. However, one should be careful not to negotiate the cost, as the amount one pays at these places is technically a donation that goes into taking care of the other pets in the facility. If the place of adoption is registered as a non-profit, pet parents can write up the adoption “donation” as tax deductible. When comparing the adoption prices at shelters, make sure the price is not being compared to those in puppy mills. If a comparison is to be made, ensure that the places being compared are reputable ones that raise the dogs ethically.
