Puppy Adoption

Adopting a puppy from a dog rescue or shelter is a great alternative to buying one from a breeder or pet store. Puppies in rescues and shelters may have been abandoned, mistreated, or let go by their owners because they could no longer take care of them. Therefore, by adopting a puppy you are giving it a second chance.

Many dog shelters and rescues are overpopulated, and when dogs aren't adopted they may have to be euthanized. Statistics show that an estimated 2.7 million dogs are euthanized each year. When a puppy is adopted, in addition to receiving a second chance at a loving home, its life is also being saved.

Puppy Adoption Considerations

When looking to adopt puppies, you should consider:

• Dog's Size Shelters are full of dogs of all shapes and sizes. Someone looking to adopt a dog should consider that the smaller its size, the more fragile it is. If there are little kids at home, adopting a tiny puppy may not be the best choice because of its small size. You'll want to look for a puppy that little ones can safely hold and be around.
  Another thing to consider is that the bigger the dog, the more space it will need to move and run around in. If its new home will be small, a big dog is probably not the right choice.
• Dog's Personality While a lot of the puppies may not have developed their own personality yet, there's still information to gather to make sure they'll be a good match. Things to consider include if the puppy is calm or very excitable, if he's good with children and other pets (if relevant) and if he's housebroken.
• Expenses There are a number of expenses associated with adopting a puppy. Many dog shelters have neutered and vaccinated their dogs, so these are expenses most adoptive parents won't have, but they'll want to confirm that. Once the puppy is adopted, it's important to budget for food, toys and potential puppy training classes.
  Another important expense to account for is dog insurance. Dogs do get into accidents and get sick from time to time. Without insurance, a trip to the vet can be quite expensive. Having dog insurance is a great precaution to protect your budget.

Benefits of Puppy Adoption

The obvious benefits of puppy adoption are that someone is saving a life and giving it a second chance. However, the puppy won't be the only one to benefit. Financially, you will be saving money as adopting a puppy costs less than buying one from a breeder or pet store. Furthermore, if the puppy has already been trained, as many shelter puppies have, there won't be a need to spend time and money on that.

Most important is the happiness that the puppy will bring. It's been proven that dogs help people with depression and high stress levels to feel better and happier. While adopters will be saving a puppy's life, the puppy will be bringing unconditional love and happiness to its new home.

Top 5 Routes for "Puppy Adoption"

1. petfinder.com This website is the largest pet adoption online search in North America and has been around for over 20 years. It's a great resource to find puppies for adoption by location.
2. adoptapet.com This is a pet adoption website that works with more than 12,000 pet shelters in the United States and Canada.
3. aspca.org This is the website for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which has been around since 1866.
4. petsmartcharities.org This website is linked to PetSmart stores across North America. It provides information on the animals they've rescued and resources for those looking to adopt.
5. thinkingoutsidethecage.org This is the website for Animal Friends, which has been around for over 70 years. It provides resources to adopt a pet, as well as information on pet behavior classes, therapy and wellness programs.