When I talk about Humane Society dogs for adoption, I’m really talking about dog adoption in general. There was a time when I really wasn’t keen on the idea of adopting a shelter dog. My reasons were probably similar to most people’s. I wanted a puppy, I was afraid of what kind of behavior I’d get from a rescue dog, and I had a preconceived notion of what I wanted the dog to look like.
I was much younger then and I didn’t understand the full consequences of not adopting. As I matured and gave thought to what it means to really love dogs, it occurred to me that there are thousands upon thousands of dogs sitting sadly in rescue shelters all over the world.
If you’re on the fence about whether to adopt a dog from a shelter or not, read through the list below. My aim is to give you as many facts to go on when making that important decision.
Here are your 23 Noble Traits of The Humane Society Dogs for Adoption
- You Take Profits Away From Puppy Mills. It is estimated that there are 10,000 puppy mills in the United States. Not all commercial dog-breeding facilities are bad. However, when there are shelters all over the world with perfectly good dogs waiting for a home, why go that route?
2. Adopting an adult dog means avoiding the puppy phase altogether. Sure, puppies are cute! I love puppies. But I also remember going through hundreds of dollars worth of shoes when my gorgeous lab ate them all.
The happy couple in this tweet below look very happy with their newly adopted dog!
3. Humane Society Dogs for Adoption have a whole team rallying behind them. They want to see those dogs go to homes where they can be happy and free. If you have questions or need help finding resources, the Humane Society is right there with you.
4. Did somebody say Boxer? Yes! Humane Society dogs for adoption include pure-bred dogs as well as mixed-breeds. Your choice is not limited! Do you really need a piece of paper that certifies your dog is a dog?
Did you know that the top 5 dogs found in shelters include:
- Beagle
- Boxer
- Labrador retriever
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Chihuahua
5. The dog you choose has been in the best possible hands. Dogs from shelters have been treated beautifully. They’re fed well, happy, and eager to go to a good home.
Some people like ’em BIG! Check out this adopted Mastiff ” Ace” in the tweet below:
6. Adopting a dog from a shelter is a pay-it-forward situation. The more people who adopt from shelters, the better word gets around. If everyone would consider adopting before buying, the world would be a better place.
7. Adopting from the Humane Society puts valuable money in their coffers. Globally, the Humane Society is working hard to stop animal testing and animal cruelty.
8. The fewer dogs on the street means a decrease in the cruel efforts to eradicate them. In some parts of the world, governments “solve” the stray dog situation by poisoning, electrocution, and shooting.
9. When considering Humane Society Dogs for Adoption, consider that the adoption fees (ranging from $170 to over $600) includes the following:
- Physical exam
- Behavioral evaluation
- Vaccinations for distemper and bordetella
- Rabies vaccine
- Deworming medication
- Flea Treatment
- Tick Treatment
- Spay Neuter
- A FREE follow-up exam
- A package of medications for the dog (if needed) to get you by for about 2 weeks.
- A bag of dog food
- Free dog ID tags
The benefits of adopting a dog from the Humane Society extend way beyond the list noted above.
10. Adopting a dog from the Human Society lessens the burden of the 3.3 million dogs put in shelters every year (approximate).
11. You literally save a life. Every year, there are approximately 670,000 dogs euthanized because there simply isn’t enough room.
12. You get to show off! Adopting a shelter pet is gaining in popularity and status.
13. You get to see the Humane Society team in action. You will understand just how much these people care about the dogs. You would think they’d want to stand on the street-corner handing dogs out like candy, but they don’t. Volunteers work very hard to make sure they are NOT handing dogs to people who haven’t prepared themselves.
14. I don’t really want to let this secret out, but you can always bring the dog back if you feel it’s not working out. Most places offer a 60 day return policy. Do your homework ahead of time!
15. Some Humane Society shelters also offer to microchip your dog. Did you know that only about 14% of lost dogs are reunited with their families?
16. Pet Insurance might not be on your radar, but it should be. Your dog will get a free examination by a licensed veterinarian when you adopt from a shelter. If the dog has no pre-existing conditions, you can get pet insurance.
17. Join a community of 1.6 million people who adopt from shelters every year. Dogs enrich our lives, lower our blood pressure, and make us laugh. Check out the tweet below and you’ll see why it’s important to cater to your dog’s strengths, not his weaknesses. Hilarious!
18. Be a dog owner! Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog. You can be one of them.
19. Boost the numbers. As it stands now, 23% of dogs are adopted from the Humane Society or another shelter. The trend is slowly rising, but you can help tip the scale
20. Become a dog expert like Cesar Milan. Pet problems are the most common reason people re-home their dogs. You can learn to be a pack leader quickly and easily (I did!), and once you are seen as the pack leader, behavioral problems will disappear.
21. Pet owners laugh more, love more, and have better overall health.
22. Ensure that at least one more dog goes to a home that respects and values his life. Make sure that you are the one who provides food, water, and a safe home where the dog can finally be safe.
23. Add 1 + 1. Two dogs are just as easy as one. I did it!
Now that you are convinced to adopt a dog from a shelter, take some time to do your homework first. It’s an exciting process that shouldn’t be rushed. Visit the shelter, do research on the particular breed that interests you the most, and make sure your house can accommodate the dog’s needs.
Congratulations! You are on your way to becoming a valued and respected adopter.
I hope you enjoyed the post and I want you to stick around for more great content. To get you started, I suggest visiting 11 Ways to Reclaim Your Dog’s Health in 2018
 
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