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Adopting A Shelter Dog ?

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Are you considering adopting a shelter dog? There are millions of unwanted dogs out there, just waiting for good homes.However, there are a few things to consider, before you adopt a shelter dog?

By Sharon Stajda,

Animals end up in shelters for various reasons. Some are given up due to a families change in a housing situations. Others may become incompatible with the family situation, perhaps due to one of the family members becoming allergic to the animal? Some dogs are given to shelters due to behavior problems. Sometimes these behavior problems may have resulted due to little or no training of the dog by its owner, and the dog is not  truely at fault.

If you  are considering adopting a shelter dog, you need to stop, and give some thought to your lifestyle, and your readiness to be a responsible pet owner. Are you, and your family ready to make a long term commitment to a dog? When bringing a dog into your home, you will be responsible for its total welfare. This includes supplying that dog with food, good healthcare, and a loving safe place for it to live its life out.

Before choosing the right dog for you and your family. You have to take some things into consideration? First consider, who the dog will be in daily contact with? A strong, active breed of dog may be too much for a young child? A small dog may be to delicate for a young child? Is there an elderly person in your home? Would a very active dog be to much for an elderly person to cope with? You get the idea...Just consider your family, and their needs, as well as the dogs need's -- before picking out that special dog.

Another big consideration, are you ready to be a caretaker for a pet? Don't adopt a dog if you think it may get lost in the daily shuffle... So -- do you have time to spend with a dog, and the energy to make sure the pet is well trained, and cared for?

Last but not least-can you truly afford a dog? Owning a dog is an extra expense on a families budget. Perhaps you have the money to pay for the adoption fee's? But do you have the money for the animals yearly check ups, vaccinations and so on...Will you be able to afford unexpected vet bills, if the animal should become ill?

Pets are living creatures, and deserve to be treated with love, and respect. So many dogs are discarded to shelters, and so need second chances.

Owning a dog can be very rewarding. Dogs become friends very quickly, and form bonds as people do. So if you think you can open your heart, and home to a shelter dog, you may be on your way to becoming someone's very best friend?

 

Please Take Me Home...                                                                        

Some good Articles On Dogs...

How The Dog Became Man's Best Friend
"Some scientists believe that the earliest wild dog originated in North America fifteen to thirty-five million years ago, long before any men lived there. No one really knows which animals were the ancestors of this first dog in the world. They think that he probably had a wolf father and a jackal mother. And the descendants of this puppy were the very first wild animals that primitive man ever tamed." Read More...
Dogs That Are Different...
"Just as there are people who are rare in the world of human beings, there are dogs that stand out in the dog world because of something unusual about them." Read more...

Pets 911

Pets 911 is a site that has consolidated a mass of infomation on pet adoption, and much more... All under one roofso to say...
Pets 911...
"What is PETS 911?

PETS 911 believes that if you consolidate all the adoption, fostering, lost and found, volunteer, shelter/clinic, and health and training information out there and give the public a single and easy place to find this information, education will substantially increase and euthanasia will decrease. That is our mission. Please take a moment to look at our site. You will see that PETS 911 is becoming an answer for not only the public, but also the animal welfare community on how we in this country can all take part in saving those 5 million animals every year."

" Stand by Your Shelter
Every day, your local shelter struggles with pet overpopulation and small budgets to help animals in your area. National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show your support-and it's just around the corner. Check out four easy ways to celebrate all your shelter does for your community."

Do Not Just Give Your Pet Away...

Free To Good Home?
Shelters and rescues are frequently criticized for charging an adoption fee. "If you're so anxious to find homes for these pets," we're told, "you should just give them away."

This attitude makes us shudder. In the first place, these small fees in no way begin to cover the cost incurred for medical treatment and upkeep of the pets we adopt out. Yes, we're anxious to find homes for our animals--GOOD homes. And many people who take free pets do provide wonderful homes. However, frequently--much too frequently!--animal welfare workers are called in to rescue former "free to good home" animals.

LOCATOR FOR YOUR NEAREST ANIMAL SHELTER...

If you have room in your home, and heart for a pet--- Please take time to consider giving a "discard pet" a second chance...
ANIMAL SHELTER DIRECTORY...
I hope this Lens has made you consider adopting an animal from a shelter? There are so many animals that need homes. This link will provide you with the information you need to hook up with a shelter in your area.

PLEASE WATCH YOUTUBE--- NO MORE TURNING AWAY

If you ever stopped to view a YouTube, please stop and watch No More Turning Away... It is such a tribute to all the Shelter Dogs...

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WOULD LOVE TO ADOPT--- BUT CAN'T

DO THE NEXT BEST THING...

Please consider donating to an organization that helps animals get a second chance...
The Humane Society Of The United States...
Sure--- I know money may be a bit short? And I know the excuse "I give at work...
I realize there are people in need out there...

But take a moment to think just how many organizations are out there collecting for human's in need?

There are so few charities that provide for animals in need. I donate regularly to my local Humane Society. I also take over bags of food, I find on sale.

Please consider helping shelter animal's?
They really need our help.

The smallest amount will help. So please consider donating to an Animal Organization of your choice?
Locate A Humane Society Near You...
This link is a great place to start. It provides a quick and user friendly search locator. So please take the next step. Locate an animal shelter near you. You can't imagine how wonderful it feels to give...

DOG OWNERS PLEASE READ!

Did you know sugarless gum could kill your dog?

A common sweetener by the name of Xylitol used in sugarless gum, and toothpaste. It can also be found in some food products naturally. Foods such as fruit, berries, mushrooms, and lettuce. If ingested even in small amounts it can lead to a serious problems. When Xylitol is ingested by dogs, it causes an increase in insulin production, which drops the dogs blood sugar dangerously low. Which can results in liver failure, and a speedy death. Symptoms of Xylitol poisoning can include; initially vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. Symptoms are rapid. If your dog ever ingests sugarless gum or toothpaste treat it as an emergency...

ASPCA--

The Ameracan Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals

ASPCA...
"Change the Fate of a Needy Animal Today

"When you sponsor one of these loving dogs or cats you will be changing more than just one life...you will be changing thousands. Every step we take to increase the number of shelter pets adopted means another dog's or cat's life will be saved."

The ASPCA Internet site offers an abundence of information. Not only on pet adoption, but on pet health and proper care. For instance---

"PET POISON PREVENTION, FROM A TO ZCheck out our mini-library of substances that are potentially poisonous to companion animals.

1. Yeast Dough
Raw or uncooked, it can expand in your pet's tummy if ingested-possibly causing obstruction or intestinal rupture.

2. Citrus Fruits
None of these sun-ripened sweets for your sweet, please. Peels, fruits and seeds can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

3. Mistletoe
Take care if decking your halls with this popular holiday plant-it can cause GI irritation, excessive thirst and, in severe cases, seizures, coma and even death."

Please read on for complete list of poisonous substances....

Pet Collectors Need Assistance ----

Pet Collectors/Hoarders
"Hoarding is considered a disease. According to Dr. Stephanie LaFarge, the director of Counseling Services for the ASPCA shelter in New York City, "It is an obsessive/compulsive disorder. It is obsessive in that hoarders think about the animals all the time, and it is compulsive in that they can't bring themselves to solve the problem of their neglect." Animals living in a hoarder's home may be suffering from mild to serious neglect. Of course, the hoarder's intention is to provide loving homes for the animals that they save from the streets or shelters." Please read more...

Have you ever considered adopting a shelter Dog?

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A letter I had to share...

"We recently adopted the sweetest dog from a shelter. She is a schnauzer mix who is 5 months old. She had been bounced around alot (2 shelters, foster mom, bad first adoption, back to the foster mom). She is smart, learning fast and eager to please us. I have had several purebreed dogs but wanted to adopt a shelter dog this time. Yoda is a great dog, she just needs a bit of patience from us to get completely comfortable but every day just gets better and better.

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Shar

Hello to all you fellow Squidooer's, Where do I start... I am married with two grown children, (Peyton and Eric), along with two wonderful in law children... more »

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