Adopting a Dog

Every year, thousands of dogs in American shelters are put to sleep because there are no homes available for them. Many of us have lived our lives under the impression that dogs don't die in shelters any more because our local small town shelters operate under a no-kill policy, but the fact of the matter is that is just not true. Shelters in more urban areas, and particularly in the southern part of the country where stray dogs are a prominent problem, euthanize on a regular basis because they simply don't have the resources to care for all of the animals that they take in and their adoption output is significantly slower than their surrender intake.

In addition to dogs that are euthanized in shelters, there are also the pups at puppy mills who are deformed, scarred or simply get too old to sell and will literally be shot and killed to cut expenses if they are not fortunate enough to end up in the hands of a rescue organization. Greyhound rescue organizations around the country save countless canines from a similar fate as their racing careers come to an end. Buying a dog instead of adopting one, prevents one of these dogs from finding a home instead of a lethal injection.

Also, for the dogs who are not euthanized, but are raised in a puppy mill, living conditions are often less than humane. Many of these pups are taken from their mothers way too soon and weaned early as well. These dogs have an escape, however. The breeding dogs are the ones who truly live the tough life. Breeding dogs in a puppy mill are over-breed and live in confined living quarters with limited interactive stimulation. Purchasing puppies that were raised in a puppy mill only funds this inhumane treatment.

How to Identify a Puppy Mill

While there are responsible breeders who work diligently to preserve and promote their respective breeds, these are not the breeders who are advertising pups for $400 in your local paper. Most good breeders charge considerably more than that and don't need to advertise in the paper or on a flyer because their reputations create such a demand for their puppies that they actually work off of a waiting list. Many of them require home visits and some are very active in breed rescue as well. A breeder who doesn't fit this mold may actually be operating a business similar to a puppy mill.

Remember that puppy mills don't have big flashing signs that specify what they are.

The final indicator that a puppy you are looking to buy was breed in a puppy mill is that it is currently living in a pet store. Logically think about it for a moment. How can a store with the overhead of mall rent sell a puppy for less than a reputable breeder who has no middle man to pay?

Why People Don't Adopt

There are a few reasons people don't adopt puppies. First of all, many people think that the only dogs available for adoption are the canines in their local shelters and many shelters have nothing to offer other than pit bulls and the occasional rottie mix. While for some, these dogs may make great pets, for the person looking for a dog under thirty pounds, a bully breed doesn't fit the bill.

For the person who understands that shelters are not the only option, but that rescue organizations can help as well, sometimes the rescue agency they contact can actually deter them from adopting. While rescue organizations serve a great purpose and do a fabulous job looking out for the best interests of their dogs, sometimes they can be so selective that they discourage good people from adopting and send them off to the puppy mill.

How to Adopt a Dog

Petfinder.com has become the premiere tool in animal adoption. Using this site, you can search by species and breed. You can also filter by the age and sex of the animal you wish to adopt. Petfinder will display the animals by proximity to your zip code.

Once you pull up a list of adoptable dogs that meet your basic criteria, you need to go through the list one by one and read about them. When you find a dog that sounds like a match, call the rescue organization, fill out an application, and they'll take you through the next steps in the process.

Many rescue organizations are extremely selective and if this is your first time adopting, you may find that you are dealing with repeated rejection. Do not get discouraged. A dog's life depends on your persistence. Keep working at it. If you are finding that your local rescue agencies are being extremely selective, you may want to look at a long-distance rescue organization. These are agencies that routinely transport saved animals from high-volume rescue areas such as Missouri, Tennessee, and Georgia. Typically you will pay the rescue agency with a credit card, they will arrange to have the dog transported with a rescue carrier that drops adopted animals at predetermined destination points, and you will pay the carrier for delivery when you pick up your new pet. This method of adoption can be a little more labor intensive in the adoption procedure and the transitioning process, but it gives you a little more flexibility in the dog you are looking for.

Adopting a dog is a great experience. It is not only rewarding to have the ability to save the life of an innocent animal, but your new companion will enhance your life for years to come.Puppy mills do their best to look like small backyard hobby breeders while they hide the dirty side of what they do where you can't see it. Also, breeders who offer more than one breed are more likely to be operating a puppy mill than breeders who specialize in a single breed.