You are viewing entries tagged 'adoption'.
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If you’re considering adopting a dog, shelters and rescue groups aren’t the only places to look for one. Each year hundreds of canines being trained for jobs, such as leading the blind or sniffing out explosives, ‘flunk out’ of school and are offered for adoption.
One such place is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which breeds and trains explosive-detection dogs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Dogs with medical issues (like allergies or hip dysplasia) are cut from the program, and offered to the public for free. Yup, you heard right. Free. But don’t get too excited. There’s a long waiting list for the 7 to 12 month old Labrador Retrievers and Lab-Viszla mixes.
Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
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When you don’t have the ability to have a dog in your life full time, there are options out there: pet sitting for family and friends, even volunteering at shelters or clinics that care for homeless pets. Ben Stein is right. A good dog can make most problems seem not so bad.
Can’t get one? Then borrow a dog from a friend or volunteer your time to help with homeless pets. You’ll be glad you did. |
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Some veterinary clinics also do pet rescue, which overburdens staff already tasked with caring for patients. When there isn’t a no-kill shelter in the area or the shelter is full, most vets do their best to care for and find homes for abandoned pets. Having a volunteer come in to spend time with rescue animals, especially on weekends, allows the doctor and their staff to concentrate on getting their patients well while the volunteer deals with the rescue pets. Veterinary schools and hospitals often face the same quandary and would welcome volunteers to help care for pets abandoned at their facility. You get to spend time with dogs and make a difference in the lives of homeless pets. |
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Volunteering at the local animal shelter can be a wonfurrful way to have a dog in your life when it is not possible to have a dog of your own. Shelters are almost always understaffed and having extra an extra pair of loving hands to care for the pups is always welcome. Be prepared to have your heart tugged on every day by pups needing good homes, but you’ll feel better about having given homeless dogs some love and attention while they wait for that special family to take them home. |
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Actor and commentator Ben Stein says the solution to every problem is to “get a dog,” but what if your apartment is too small or you can’t handle the expense? Or if there are any other number of reasons you can’t have a dog?
This week we’ll explore ways to have a dog in your life when you can’t have a dog of your own. This way you, too, can take advantage of Ben Stein’s miracle cure for just about everything – a dog! |
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1) Adopt a dog – Be a hero!
2) Participate in dog training classes, agility, Reiki, dog therapy, T-touch. A great way to learn something for you and your dog while meeting others.
3) Talk with your dog. Dogs don’t judge what you say and they won’t throw it back in your lap later.
4) Walk with your dog. Dogs need about 30 minutes of exercise everyday and so do you!
5) Socialize with your dog. Dogs are the perfect ice-breakers – take part in social communities like Dogster and LeashesandLovers to make more connections with dog lovers world-wide. |
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There is a general agreement that between six and eight weeks is the best age to take a puppy home, which is right in the middle of the period when the socialization of dogs takes place. Any time before six weeks will interrupt the puppy’s socialization with other dogs. At seven weeks a puppy already has his personality. Some say that exactly 49 days (?!) is the perfect age, but I don’t think it’s worth getting too carried away about this! |
