Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group gives the abused or abandoned dog a deserved chance to a happy life. According to government statistics, 700-1300 animals are abandoned per county per year. This is an uncivilized disgrace. Going to a shelter to adopt a dog is an honorable act - in fact, you will be tempted to take all the dogs home with you!

There are too many puppies bred and not enough homes adopting these dogs. Abandonment numbers are simply too large for the dog rescue groups and the dog/animal shelters to handle. Many wonderful dogs that should be adopted and given another chance are left abandoned in dog shelters and euthanized every year.

There are no excuses for dog abandonment.

Common, poor excuses are given as:

• Moving: A dog owner moves only to find his dog is not allowed, so the dog becomes abandoned, as if it is disposable. Often left to the streets, or if the dog's luck is a little better, a dog shelter or animal rescue group.
• Pregnancy: A dog owner that does not anticipate and lacks the resources to cope with a pregnant dog and the litter to follow. And, the difficulty in finding good homes to adopt the puppies.
• The dog owner underestimates the amount of work required to care for a dog.
• Allergies: Make sure in advance you will not be allergic to the dog you adopt to bring home.

A neglected dog is an abused dog.

An abused dog is when it is left without food, water, shelter, when proper veterinary care is not provided, and the dog is deprived of interaction and kindness. When dogs are acquired, then forgotten or ignored, they can starve, dehydrate, be exposed to parasites, infections, and worse. Sometimes, the abused dog can become overweight to grossly obese with massive fat deposits on the chest, spine, and base of the tail, with abdominal distension.

Adopting a dog - adopting a puppy.

Dog shelters are loaded with dogs that desperately need people to adopt these dogs and give them homes. The dogs that need adopting are there due to no fault of their own. According to the ASPCA, 50% of dogs in shelters are destroyed because there is no one to adopt them. You might consider the merits of adopting a puppy, or adopting a dog, and rescuing either from your local dog shelter or dog rescue group.

The merits for adopting.

The added bonus is that dogs adopted from shelters have been given their shots, and are usually spayed/neutered. Adopting from a shelter or dog rescue can be the way to go even if you are looking for a purebred. Besides the rescue groups for purebreds, the ASPCA estimates 20% of dogs in shelters are purebred.

Going to a dog shelter to adopt your dog or puppy is a noble deed.

You should consider the following:

• The background of the dog or puppy.
• Shelters can provide assessments on aggression and personality.
• Since most dogs react to wire cages aggressively, see if you can remove a dog of interest from its neighbors.
• Try to walk the dog on a leash in a controlled area. Remember, you are a strange person in a strange environment to a confused dog. If you have other pets or children, try to examine the dog's reaction to them.
• Most pound dogs are of mixed breeds. A staff member can give you his opinion of the breed, but if you have a knowledgeable friend you may want him along for a second opinion.

There are benefits and merits to adopting an older dog.

A grown shelter dog may already be house and obedience trained, and past the teething stage. You will have a good assessment of your new dog regarding size, temperament and personality so the possibility of surprise is greatly reduced. By adopting an older dog from the shelter, you will be giving the dog a deserved second chance at a happy life.

We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one dog in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of http://www.callofthedog.com and http://www.callofthedogshop.com -- created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and quality dog supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well.

The two sites are dedicated to the dogs we have loved so deeply, and who have given us so much love in return. Purebreds and mixed breeds, but mostly rescues in need of a home. We educated them, but each one has had something to teach us in exchange.

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