Adopting a dog from a shelter is a wonderful way to provide a loving home to a dog in need while benefiting yourself in many ways. Shelters are often full of loving, healthy, and well-trained dogs of various breeds and ages, waiting for their forever homes.
Adopting from a shelter can be more cost-effective than purchasing a dog from a breeder or pet store and can provide a lifetime of joy, companionship, and emotional benefits.
Additionally, adopting a dog from a shelter can help to reduce the number of homeless dogs in the community and support the good work of animal shelters
The Benefits of Adopting a Dog From a Shelter
Save a Life
Adopting a dog from a shelter means you’re providing a home to a dog who may not have had one otherwise. This act of kindness can help to save the life of a homeless dog.
Healthier Dog
Shelter dogs often undergo health checks and vaccinations before they’re made available for adoption. This means that your new pet is likely to be healthier than a dog purchased from a pet store or breeder.
Lower Cost
Adopting a dog from a shelter is typically much less expensive than buying from a breeder or pet store. The adoption fee often includes spaying/neutering and initial vaccinations.
Pre-Trained
Many shelter dogs are already house-trained and have basic obedience training. This can make the transition to a new home much smoother.
Wide Variety of Breeds
Shelters often have a wide variety of breeds available for adoption, so you’re likely to find a dog that matches your preferences and lifestyle.
Older Dogs
Shelters often have older dogs available for adoption. These dogs can make wonderful companions and may already have basic training and calm temperaments.
Socialized Dogs
Shelter dogs are often socialized with other dogs and people. This means they’re more likely to be comfortable and well-behaved in social situations.
Support a Good Cause
By adopting from a shelter, you’re supporting a good cause and helping to fund the shelter’s efforts to care for and rehome homeless animals.
Lifetime Support
Many shelters offer lifetime support to adopters, including training advice and access to veterinary care.
Reduce Overpopulation
By adopting from a shelter, you’re helping to reduce the number of homeless dogs in your community.
Emotional Benefits
Adopting a dog can bring emotional benefits to both the dog and the adopter, including increased happiness, reduced stress, and a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Sources
- Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science: “The Role of the Adoption Process and the Characteristics of Adopters on the Short-Term Outcome of Shelter Dogs” https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10888705.2009.11913599
- Animals: “Benefits and Risks of Owning a Pet: An Overview” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073557/
Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years myself, I’ve tried an abundance of different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it’s products that I use daily myself, and I have nothing but praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be hard, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I’ve been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog’s specific needs, and as my dogs absolutely love the product, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that they require a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it’s something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you’re going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply can’t beat this brush for everyday grooming.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!
