Dogs are being put into animal shelters every day all around the world. These shelters are so important for these animals that are in need of a temporary home while they wait for their forever family to come and pick them. However, people often choose to buy a dog from a breeder, who selectively breeds dogs to get certain desired traits, instead of an animal shelter, resulting in many dogs spending a large portion of their life at the shelters. The adoption process is easy, and will give a dog a chance at a happy and peaceful life.
According to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a non-profit organization that works to prevent animal cruelty, around 920,000 animals are euthanized in shelters each year due to overpopulation. It is common for a kill shelter to not give their dogs a name, but instead number them based on the amount of dogs they have. They may choose to do this because of the amount of dogs that come in and then get put down before being rescued. Freshman Patrick Woomer says, “The dogs at a breeder are living good lives, and they’re going to be picked up by families, but the dogs at the shelter, if they don’t get picked up by a certain time they get put down, and I think they deserve a good life.” Thinking about the amount of dogs that are kept in cages all their lives and never get to experience the feeling of being loved by a family is truly heartbreaking.
When making the decision of whether to adopt a dog versus purchasing a bred dog, there is a lot to consider and many factors that come into play. Some people feel they can only get a purebred dog if they go to a breeder. This is very untrue, as most shelters have purebred dogs and specific breeds in their system. Erin Shackleford, a worker at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, explains, “We often have small breed dogs like Poodles and Yorkies, and large breed dogs like German Shepherds and even Dalmatians. While they may not be as common as mixed breed dogs, they do enter shelters and rescues.” This goes to show that it is very possible for someone to get the exact breed they are looking for by going to a shelter.
While every animal shelter has a different procedure for the adoption of their dogs, it is usually fairly simple. People who are interested in adopting will be required to submit an application that may have questions about their home, the people who live in the home, and more. Erin Shackleford, from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria assures, ”Our goal is to sit down with each family and have a conversation about their home, lifestyle, and preferences, as well as what we know about our adoptable animals’ preferences, to see if we have an animal that might be a great fit.” Every family wants a dog that they love, and that loves them, so taking these extra steps to make that happen is worth it
A common misconception about animal shelters is that the dogs there are dirty or old. Even if a dog was brought into the shelter dirty, they will be washed up by the workers. If needed, they will be given shots and medication to treat any illness brought in by them so that they are healthy. As for all of the dogs being old, that is simply false. There will be dogs of all ages in shelters, and it will be possible to adopt anything from a puppy to an elderly dog.
No matter their age, it’s necessary to remember that the shelter is a place where dogs go when they do not have a home, or are simply not wanted anymore. This means that some dogs may have come from families who were neglective or abusive. These things may cause the dog to have trust issues, be defensive about being touched, and possibly other difficulties. When selecting a dog, it’s important for any possible owner to make sure that they are informed of the animal’s background, and that they are prepared to make the dog feel comfortable, safe, and loved. Patience is key.
There are tens of millions of animals around the world that are waiting in shelters to be adopted and taken to a loving forever family. Some will never have this happy ending. Even though sometimes it may feel easier to purchase a dog from a breeder, the satisfaction of giving a dog a new life full of love is worth it. Animal shelters serve such an important service in our communities working to help animals in need, but it is not the same as a home and family.