People who opt for a purchased pooch cite a variety of valid reasons. Buying a dog from a reputable breeder means getting to choose the appearance, and to some extent, the personality traits of your new furry friend. Purebred puppies also usually come with all of their shots, which saves a trip to the vet and defrays to cost of buying the dog from the breeder.
Those who favor buying dogs will also mention the health and behavior problems supposedly prevalent in rescue animals. Adopting a rescue puppy can be quite gamble, since not even a veterinarian can tell the ancestry of a mixed breed puppy for certain. These perceived drawbacks keep many prospective dog owners from considering adoption as an alternative to purchasing a dog.
In reality, there has never been a better time to adopt a dog! With the economy in turmoil, many people, including owners of purebred pets, are having to give up their beloved animals for financial reasons. While it's always been true that not all shelter dogs are problem dogs, the number of healthy, well-behaved dogs losing their homes today is truly staggering. Many of the dogs in need of rescue are even purebreds, complete with pedigrees.
For owners willing to take on a challenge, a visit to any local animal shelter is a good place to find your new best friend. Dogs in shelters generally come with no guarantees, and they may indeed have health or behavior problems. However, you can minimize the risk of adopting a true problem pet by spending time with the animal before making a final decision to adopt him. Try walking the dog on a leash, picking him up, and playing with him. See how he acts around other people and animals.
If you want to make sure that your pet adoption experience is a smooth one, consider adopting through a rescue society that pre-screens pets before putting them up for adoption. Many of these organizations, such as Lab Retriever Rescue are breed-specific, so if you have a favorite breed of dog, try searching for a rescue organization devoted to that breed. By adopting through a breed-specific rescue organization, you can get the kind of dog you want and still have the satisfaction of providing a home to an animal who needs one.
Another fantastic resource for adopting dogs is Petfinder.com. This website allows you to search by breed as well as by location so you can find the right dog for you in your area. You can read about many different pets before narrowing down your choice of which to adopt.
Your local newspaper- and its associated website- should have a classified section devoted to pets. This can be another great way to find a pet in need of a home. Respond to several ads before choosing a pet, and make sure to visit the pet in question before making your final decision. Remember that people placing ads will often try to make the animal sound as attractive as possible.