You have finally saved up a little money. Your living situation is stable. It has been a long time coming, but you are ready to do the most grown-up thing: take care of someone other than yourself. The next step is clear. It is time to start looking for your dream dog. For many of us, that means heading to the local shelter to rescue a scrappy little companion whose life you can enrich with treats, long evening walks, and vigorous belly rubs.
Why Choose a Shelter?
First of all, congratulations on choosing a shelter over a breeder or pet store. Many experienced pet parents, including Raj Punjabi-Johnson and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost's "Am I Doing It Wrong?" podcast, can attest to the joy of giving a rescue a great home. If you have a preference for a certain breed, you are in luck. Contrary to popular belief, shelters house every kind of dog.
"We recently posted a gray poodle named Izzy on our social media, and she has this frou-frou gray hairdo," said Rachel Ziering, founding executive director of Muddy Paws rescue and pet adoption expert, on a recent episode. "We get poodles, we get Shih-Tzus, we get maltipoos — and we get puppies. So it might take a little longer [to get] whatever you're looking for, but we do get all kinds of dogs."
Questions to Ask Before Adopting
Straight out of the gate, Ziering suggests asking about the pup's temperament. Is the dog very outgoing or a bit of an introvert? Are they anxious or generally unbothered? These personality traits will help you decide if the dog can comfortably acclimate to your lifestyle.
"And then in terms of medical, you're going to want to make sure the dog has all of its basic vaccines and testing," Ziering added, "which any reputable shelter is going to be doing."
You also want to ask about the dog's social behavior around other animals, especially if you live in a city. You need a dog that can tolerate busy, heavily populated streets. "Have you seen the dog with other dogs? Have you seen the dog with cats?" Ziering prompted. "And usually the answer is no there. But in a foster-based rescue, sometimes the answer is yes."
Consider Your Own Lifestyle
Before signing those adoption papers, take into consideration your own social and travel habits to ensure you can give your new pet the attention and care they require. "If you don't feel like you're in a good place to give a dog or cat a forever home, foster," Ziering added. "It's beautiful. We need fosters more than anything. We can't take dogs from shelters unless we know that we have a foster home for them."
On this episode, the hosts also talk to Ziering about why certain pets end up at shelters, and all the ways we can help a new pet feel comfortable and safe. Make sure to subscribe to "Am I Doing It Wrong?" on your preferred podcast platform to catch the full episode and many more.
For more information about Muddy Paws, visit their website.
