Adopting A Shelter Dog

Do you have it in your heart to give a dog a second chance?

By Sharon Stajda,

Have you ever considered adopting a shelter pet? There are millions out there waiting for good homes.

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

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

Before choosing the right pet for you and your family. You have to take some things into consideration? First think of who the pet will be in daily contact with? A strong, active pet 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 pets needs -- before picking out that special pet.

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

Last but not least-can you truly afford a pet? Owning a pet 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 pets are discarded to shelters, and so need second chances.

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

Please Take Me Home...

NO MORE TURNING AWAY...

Shelter Dogs waiting patiently for a home...

The unfortunate part in all of this--- most shelter dogs only have about a week before --- well you know...

Powered by Flickr

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."

The Eyes Speak Loudly

I sort of have given up---

HEY! I don't belong in here... I just got lost...without my tag

Dogs behind fence photos always seem very sad.

The eyes speak loudly...

Powered by Flickr

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...

New YouTube

No More Turning Away ~ An animal shelter video

You can make a difference. Through adoption, fostering, volunteering, donations (whether it be money or something you don't need anymore that the animals will benefit from), and even just educating people about responsible pet ownership and the pet overpopulation crisis, you can help these animals. The animal shelters are not the bad guys. They are just doing what they can. Not having animal shelters would not keep animals from dying-- it would just keep them from dying humanely.

4.69

powered by YouTube

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...

Dogs That Clearly Need a Friend...

They were shelter dogs, completely unrelated. by zen

Powered by Flickr

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...