Where Do Shelter Dogs Come From?

When you adopt a dog from a shelter, you are saving a life. Even if the shelter or rescue is a no-kill shelter, you are making room for that group to take in another dog and thereby saving their life. It's a good feeling to know that you've made a difference.

Your new dog will have been vetted and generally evaluated for health and temperament. Contrary to popular belief, dogs are usually relinquished to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the dog's temperament. Sometimes it's just a family crisis or some legal issue.

 ^{My adopted border collie, Moss.}

he shelter dog generally has been neutered or spayed and vaccinated which makes the shelter fees a real bargain. It is still cheaper than buying from a breeder or buying from a pet shop or online.

Dogs, as pets have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally, and physically beneficial. Having a pet to care for can bring purpose to someone's life and provide structure and fulfillment They provide unconditional love and can lessen a feeling of isolation and loneliness.

You won't be supporting puppy mills and pet shops. This is a subject that is just too vast to describe here. I suggest reading Pet Store Puppies and Puppy Mills.

^{Photo of Jackson, my brother's adopted dog used by permission}

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• About 62 percent of all households in the United States have a pet which comes to about 78.2 million dogs owned in the United States according to The American Pet Products Assoc.
• According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), about 65 percent of pet owners acquire their pets free or at low cost.
• · The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. Twenty-six percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, 20 to 30 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues, and 2 to 10 percent are purchased from pet shops.

It seems that most of our dogs are from unspayed and unneutered dogs who accidentally breed, or the "one-time" breeder who wants their dog to have one litter.

The ASPCA has promoted low-cost solutions to the pet population for years. They have a website to help you locate a clinic near you.

Shelters have buildings and kennels to house the animals. They may be operated by a local municipality or have contracts with local communities to operate the facility. They generally have paid staff as well as volunteers. They are generally required to take in all animals brought to them by the animal control officers such as strays and animal abuse seizures as well as any brought in by the general public. Unless they are a no-kill shelter, animals will be euthanized after a period of time.

Rescues typically do not have kennels but place dogs in  foster homes until they can be evaluated, retrained if necessary, and adopted. Their adoption fees may be a bit higher because they do not have any subsidies to pay for medical care, transportation or any other costs. Many specialize in one breed or a mix of that breed. Some only take puppies and some will take any dog. Many of the dogs are pulled from kill shelters to give them more time to find a home. Shelters have the option to stop taking in dogs when they are at capacity. Some will not take dogs in from a private home because they feel that it is the owner’s responsibility to rehome the dog.

See Animal Shelters by State

It’s well-known that some horses kept in stalls for too long can suffer from boredom and isolation. Some pace their stalls, weave, chew, or crib – which is holding onto something with their teeth and sucking air.

Some dogs kept in shelters for too long can develop abnormal behaviors as well. Pacing, spinning and jumping in place are just a few of the behaviors. I can imagine my dog, Moss, would be a candidate for the behavior shown in the video below.

1. Comment on your Facebook status. Here’s a suggestion, "October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog!
   
   
2. Tweet, retweet and repeat the following (or your own incredibly brilliant message): "October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog!"
   
   
3. Your local shelter or rescue group may be holding some special events to raise awareness of adoption or to raise funds. Contact them and volunteer to advertise with flyers around your neighborhood. You can search for groups near you here.
   
   
4. Share an adoptable dog picture or a success story on your blog, Facebook or Twitter (hashtag #savedogs) page.
   
   
5. Sign up as a foster parent or shelter volunteer then tell your friends how great it is. Contact your local shelter or rescue group.
   
   
6. Organize a fund raiser for your local shelter or rescue.
   
   
7. Write an article about the importance of pet adoption for your newsletter or local paper.
   
   
8. Contact your local shelter or rescue group and offer to photograph their adoptable pets and upload the pictures to a web site like petfinder.com or for the local paper.
   
   
9. Donate to your local shelter or rescue group in honor of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month.
   
   
10. Talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and others of the next generation about animal shelters, Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and pet adoption in general.