Why You Should Not Take or Give Away a Dog Without Payment

When this appears in the pet section of the classified section of your newspaper warning signs should go up. There has to be a reason why this pet is being given away.

There may be behavioral problems to contend with. It could be a dog that continues to run away. They may not have been able to house train the dog and you can be prepared for multiple messes until you do the training yourself.

Another warning sign is a pure bred dog for a very low price. Labs are very vulnerable to this in some areas of the country. Cute puppies available for $50. You cannot get a quality pure bred dog for $50. Chances are there will be expensive health issues with the animal. Hip dysplasia is a common occurrence, especially in big dogs. This is very painful for the dogs and very expensive to treat at times. Hip replacement in dogs cost upwards of $6000 per hip.

While hip dysplasia is an hereditary illness, often the dog can live a decent life with the problem. Medications are available to help with the pain and in mild cases there are less costly treatments than surgery. When you get a puppy, both parents should be on the premises. If the dog is a pedigree you need to see the papers and family history. Registered animals are more expensive than those from backyard breeders, but are usually a more sound animal.

Some other considerations of receiving a free dog is the person who is giving the dog away is potentially encouraging bait dogs for dog fights. This is a lot more common than most people believe. It's not just the rich and famous that get involved, but the person on the back road in small communities as well. These bait dogs are used to train fighting dogs to maim or kill other dogs. Free should not be encouraged.

If you sincerely want a pet check with your local animal shelter, be it animal control, Humane Society or ASPCA. Yes there are charges and there are places where that is very expensive as well. The area of the country you are in will probably determine the price at shelters. The southeastern states charge from $75-100 generally. This fee covers spay/neuter, shots and in some cases examination by a vet.

The other option is animal rescue. This would be especially helpful if you have a specific breed in mind. Rescues are out there for just about every breed. These dogs are checked for behavior with people and other animals as well. Chances are they have lived in a foster home with rescuers familiar with the breed and able to address difficulties. You don't get an animal with a mystery illness, they are fully vetted. Very often these dogs come to them with heart worms or other illnesses. They are treated and cured before they are adopted out. They are spayed, neutered and up to date on shots.

On the flip side of this coin is the person giving the dog away. There are times when circumstances force someone to give up a pet. Moving, finances, allergies or other factors will prevail. Do not give your dog to someone who can't afford it. They probably won't afford veterinary expense either. Is that what you want for your pet? Giving away dogs also leads to the potential bait dog issue stated earlier. Charge something. If you are moving to an area that will not allow dogs, turn your dog over to rescue or charge for it. Rescues are always a good alternative.

When you give away a dog you are removing it's value. People do not take care of things that have no value.

Love your pets as they love you. They know the difference between your tripping over them or kicking them and can sense your moods much more accurately than most people can.