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Why You Should Get Rescue Dogs For Adoption

Jun 03, 2020 by Leo Roux

When it comes to dogs, there are typically three ways that people get them. They either take them from a friend or coworker whose pet had a litter, and they don't want to keep the puppies. Another way is to purchase a dog from a breeder. The third and last way is to get one of the rescue dogs for adoption. When you support your local dog rescue shelters, you're making a real difference in your community and a dog's life.

There are three primary reasons you should consider looking at rescue dogs for adoption instead of going to a professional breeder.

Rescue Dogs For Adoption: Save Their Lives!

The most significant reason to choose rescue dogs for adoption as opposed to a breeder is that you can save not just their lives, but the lives of other dogs who now have a home in the shelter because your dog no longer occupies the space.

It's a beautiful feeling to know that your actions can have such a positive impact on an animal. Adopting a rescue dog will make you feel better about yourself, your dog, and your community.

Fight Against Puppy Mills

Unfortunately, not all breeders are entirely ethical. Puppy mills are breeders who only care about profits and not animal welfare. Estimates suggest that there are 10,000 puppy mills all across the United States, with 2 million puppies who come from these problematic businesses.

For dogs, puppy mills are like torture. Mother dogs are in cages, sometimes not even seeing sunlight, forced to churn out litter after litter of puppies. Father dogs face the same fate. When one of the dogs is no longer useful, they are usually abandoned or killed. It's a challenging life.

While puppy mills are cruel, the only reason they exist is that people want so many cute dogs (and who could blame them?). By getting animal shelter dogs, you're actively taking business away from these cruel businesses and supporting your community. Without your money, puppy mills can't survive!

Save Some Money

Breeders are businesses, so they need to charge enough to keep themselves in the black. However, often, shelters are non-profits with a mixture of paid staff and volunteers working tirelessly to give every animal that comes in a loving home. Therefore, adoption fees are not to make as much money as possible but rather to cover some of the costs that it takes to run a shelter.

As someone looking for a dog, the result is that you don't have to pay as much to get one from a shelter. A dog that might cost you thousands if you buy it from a breeder will cost a fraction of that if you go to dog rescue shelters.

Where Do Dog Shelters Get Their Animals?

When looking at rescue dogs for adoption, you may be wondering where they get these animals.

Many of them come from people who left them there intentionally. Sometimes, unfortunately, having a pet doesn't work out. Maybe the previous owner and the dog didn't get along, or the owner had a baby and no longer feels comfortable with a 100 lb. German Shepherd around it. Regardless of the reason, the humane thing to do is surrender your pet to a local shelter and let them work to find the dog a new home.

Although there have been many campaigns promoting pet birth control, some dogs are not spayed or neutered. When these dogs have litters, the owners often take their offspring to the shelter as they don't have a home for them.

Some dogs also come from challenging backgrounds. Neglected and abused dogs often find their way into shelters once someone can rescue them. Most of the time, when placed in a loving home, dogs that come from these backgrounds can adjust and live happy, bountiful lives.

Regardless of the reasons they wound up in the shelter, each animal there wants one thing: a loving, happy home. You can provide them with that!

Choosing Rescue Dogs For Adoption Is Much Better Than Buying

Ultimately, adopting a dog is much better than buying one. It's cheaper and doesn't contribute to the horrific conditions of puppy mills. Furthermore, you're giving a dog a second chance at a loving, fulfilling home.

Look for places to adopt dogs and find the perfect pet for you! You can also browse most dog adoption sites online to see the available pets before you show up to the shelter.

What is a rescue dog?

A rescue dog is a dog that the previous owner neglected, abandoned, or abused. In this context, the word "rescue" means that people have taken it from these horrific conditions. Unfortunately, many of the dogs you will see in animal shelters have come from these brutal environments.

How much do rescue dogs cost?

The answer to this question is more nuanced than it might seem at first. There are no country-wide or state-wide adoption fee rates. Instead, the local shelters are free to set whichever prices they want. Typically, though, adoption fees hover around the $100-$500 range. You're not going to walk away with a dog for free, but it also won't break the bank. By contrast, some dog breeds will fetch $1,000 or more on the open market - depending on what breed it is. Adoption fees are almost always cheaper than buying a dog from a business.

How to settle in a rescue dog?

There are a few steps you can follow to settle a rescue dog into your home. Keep calm, and don't let your dog see frustration or anger. Rescue dogs for adoption have likely seen violence and fighting before. Seeing that again with you could hinder your chances of developing a bond. Socialize slowly and be positive! If you have small children, you may wish to keep that in mind and ensure they are safe. Finally, last but not least, be predictable. If your dog went long periods of being malnourished, then if you forget to do things that could erode early trust.