There are few things I am really passionate about. Great food, books that keep you guessing and animals. Mainly animals. Big or small, fluffy or sleek, livestock or pet; I love them all. And I care deeply about the welfare and treatment of all of them. That being said, nothing wrecks my day and makes me cry quite like a story about a hurt or abandoned animal. In an attempt to help prevent these tragedies from occurring, I have provided a list to help when deciding to adopt an animal, particularly man's best friend.
1. Remember that puppies grow up. I know how adorable they are. Puppies are soft and cuddly and portable, but no matter what type of dog they are they will get bigger. When I got my dog, she was the size that her head is now. And her poop has magnified by the same size. If you think that you have found the perfect dog, and it is only 8 weeks old, think about the future.
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2. Going off of that, think about the time and space you have available for a dog. If you live in a 600 square foot apartment with no yard and you work 40+ hours a week, don't get a border collie or any dog like it. Most dogs need roam to run around and if that isn't available during the day, they need you to take the time to walk and play with them. If they aren't properly stimulated, they will become destructive from boredom.
3. If your dog starts acting up, don't forget to look to yourself for an answer as to why. It is easy to blame every mistake on animals, they know not to poop on the floor after all. But you could have been engrossed in some other task and not noticed that they needed to be let out. Adjustments may need to be made from both you and your dog to fix a problem.
4. While we are on the topic of fixing things, please fix your dogs! Unless you are a breeder with experience and proper registration, please spay or neuter your dogs. There are so many unwanted puppies in the world that are left in shelters already, don't add to the problem. And "I can't afford it," is not a good enough excuse, because puppies are expensive and can continue to happen whereas fixing is a one time fee. Plus fixing your animals can cure attitude problems, which makes life easier.
5. Dogs in general can be expensive so if you can't afford to pay for basic vet care such as shots and worming, do not get a dog. The free puppies advertised on Facebook are not actually free. They will require puppy shots, lots of food and as stated above, to be spayed or neutered.
6. If you have any doubts about getting a dog, do not get a dog. Dogs love everyone and when you take one home it will love you. It will not understand why it was not good enough for you or why it is back in the shelter. Because the problems you have with it are just that, YOUR problems. The only problem a dog has is whether it is loved or not. Dogs' hearts are so pure and full of joy. Do not dim that joy by taking a dog home and then changing your mind after a month.
7. Remember, a dog is a commitment. They need to be taken care of no matter how you feel. They need fed every day. They need to be exercised. And most importantly, dogs need love. They deserve attention and scratches and someone who doesn't see them as a bother, but someone who seems them as part of the family.
There are lots of other considerations to make when deciding to add a furry friend to the family, but these are ones that I think are important. I am all for adopting dogs, especially with the incredibly high number in pounds, but please, adopt responsibly.
