Why People Are Still Buying Dogs instead of Adopting One

Most people know that the local shelter is overflowing with dogs who are looking for a forever home. And adopting an animal is probably something that goes through your mind before you get a new pet. But the truth is that many people still buy dogs from breeders or friends instead of adopting one from the shelter for 3 major reasons.

1.      They Believe the Myths about Pet Adoption

There is a lot of misinformation about pet adoptions, and it’s difficult to dissuade people from them. After all, it only takes one bad experience to bad-mouth every animal inside the shelter.

Myth #1: It’s Impossible to Find the Dog You Want

Whether you’re looking for a specific breed, age, or disposition, you can find the dog you want in a shelter or from a foster home. The only caveat is that it will take more time than contacting a breeder and waiting for the next litter of puppies. But shelters know how important it is to find the pet you’re looking for. Many rescue organizations can even relocate pets for their perfect new home, so you’re not stuck just looking inside your city limits, either.

Myth #2: Shelter Dogs Don’t Make Good Pets

Every dog is different, and not every shelter dog will make a good pet for you. That part is true. But there is a dog in the shelter who is just right for you. Fortunately, the staff at your local rescue organization knows the animals well. For example, they won’t give you a dog who doesn’t like cats if you have one or more feline companions. And they would never place a dog who tends to get nervous around loud noises in a family with little children.
  

Myth #3: Shelter Dogs Have Too Much Baggage

Everyone has a story behind them. You do, and so does your pet. It may take some time to get a dog from the shelter to adjust to your home, because they’re more careful than a puppy. However, in return, you get loving companionship for life if you’re willing to put in the time. If you and the dog are a good match, his personal history won’t stand in the way of a lasting friendship between the two of you.

Myth #4: Puppies Are Free, Why Pay for a Dog?

Yes, the puppy your neighbor offered you is free. But when you add the cost of neutering him, taking him to several well-visits in the first year, and replacing every item he chewed up in your home, puppies come at a hefty price tag. There’s nothing wrong with giving your neighbor’s puppy a home, but money shouldn’t be the reason not to go to the shelter instead.

Most shelters only charge nominal fees to continue doing the good work they’re doing. That’s worth supporting financially, too. Additionally, you’ll often receive a pet that’s up to date on vaccinations and has been neutered.

2.      They Fall in Love with a Puppy

Falling in love is wonderful, but new love often wears rose-colored glasses. It’s no different with a puppy. Of course, they’re cute, but it’s easy to forget the long-term implications of owning a dog when you’re staring into those big brown eyes. There’s nothing wrong with falling in love with a puppy, but you should know what you’re getting yourself into before you ever start looking for a dog.

Before you bring that puppy home, you should figure out where to keep it, how to take care of it, and what to feed it. You should train the puppy, too; that includes crate training, housetraining, and general obedience training. Finally, no matter how cute that puppy is, you should consider how the rest of your family will react to this new family member once it starts chewing on things.

3.      They Want to Know the Dog’s History

When you’re buying a car, it might be wonderful to buy a new car just for the assurance that it hasn’t been in an accident. But getting a dog is not at all the same thing. In fact, purebred dogs tend to have more health issues than most mutts you’ll find at the shelter. Incidentally, mixed-breed dogs are often cuter than their purebred counterparts, too.

And while you may not know what exactly happened to your dog in the first months or years of his life, you can still get a pretty good idea of what type of dog he is. In fact, it’s easier to judge an adult dog’s disposition than to try to predict how the puppy will turn out as an adult.