Rescue, Not Retail | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Rescue, Not Retail

Five common misconceptions people have about adopting a dog from a shelter.

74
Rescue, Not Retail
Carly Adams

Spring is here, the weather is warming up, and soon you will see countless new puppies strolling down the streets with their new owners. If you're anything like me, you don't get baby fever, you get puppy fever, and this is flu season. Each passing pup with their big clumsy feet and floppy ears takes you further down the rabbit hole of adoption. You find yourself Googling breeders in your area, scoping out local dog parks to see which breeds you prefer, and calculating costs to see if a pooch can fit into your life. When you start getting serious about your dog hunt, you will face a tough decision: Rescue a dog from a shelter or purchase one from a breeder. While each option has pros and cons, and one many not always be right for everyone, here are some of the misconceptions many have about shelter dogs.

1. They don't always have behavior problems

You will be wondering why a dog ended up in the shelter, and sure, some of them probably did have some behavior issues. Of course, this doesn't mean they gnawed someone's face off. It may have been a chewer as a pup, and the former owner didn't provide and bones which led it to chew the chair leg. Maybe the dog barked a lot because the former owner was never home. Or maybe the dog is just a chewer or a barker and needs a home that can adjust. It's also possible that the dog is there for something they had no control over. Often, people move and can't take their dog to their new home. Many families give up their dog when they have a new baby. There are all sorts of reasons a dog can end up in a shelter, and you can always ask.

2. You can still get the breed you want

One of the most common misconceptions is that shelters only have mutts or mixed breeds. If you have a specific breed in mind, check out your local shelter first. If they don't have it, check out a breed specific rescue. They have rescues for every breed you can imagine, like beagles, labs and even Bernese Mountain Dogs.

3. You can still get a puppy

A lot of people say they are going to a breeder because they want a puppy, not a full-grown dog. First of all, a full-grown dog does have its perks, like not having to be potty-trained and being already past the chewing-on-your-furniture phase. But if you're set on a puppy, your local animal shelter likely has some. Often, a pregnant pooch will find its way to a shelter, and when she gives birth, each of those pups will need a home.

4. They aren't more costly than one from a breeder

Some people believe that shelter dogs, while cheaper, at first, have lots of expenses in the long run due to the unknown breeding conditions. While it's true, you don't get a full pedigree with a shelter dog. That doesn't mean they are unhealthy. Mixed breeds tend to be healthier than pure breeds, and adopting a pure breed from a shelter poses the same risks that come with a pure breed from a breeder (unless you're comparing it to the champion bloodline breeder). A breeder breeds dogs for certain traits, and some of those traits can actually be harmful to the dog. A dog from a breeder can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000. That's a steep price, and the comparative figures for a shelter adoption are much, much lower. There are often events (and even coupons) for a free or discounted adoption, and they usually cost no more than $250 before any discounts. Health issues that do arise with a shelter dog may still keep the overall price tag lower than that of a dog from a breeder.

5. A dog from a shelter will love you

A dog from a shelter may have a past. They ended up in the shelter because they were rejected by someone else. It may have had a family already. It may have been abused. Maybe it was a lousy human who mistreated the dog, or maybe it was an elderly human who knew they could no longer care for their dog. But neither of those scenarios prevent a dog from loving you just as much if not more than it loved a former owner. It's always amazing how a dog can overcome any troubles in their past with a loving and nurturing home. And by helping a dog with a shaky past to move on, it will only love you more and be more grateful to you. They are so glad to be out of a kennel, to have their own toys, their own yard. That gratitude will come with sloppiest puppy smooches you could ever imagine.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

11 Confessions Of A Sleep-A-Holic

If your plans get cancelled, there is a 99.9% percent chance you are sleeping.

165
woman lying on bed
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

1. What are some of your hobbies? Does sleep count?

I'm so good at sleeping I can do it with my eyes closed

Keep Reading...Show less
one tree hill
Wikipedia Commons

If you need a new series to watch, I recommend One Tree Hill. I watched this series three times now and it only keeps getting better. If you need any more reasons beside the fact that all of the seasons are on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure, here are seven more reasons to watch it.

Keep Reading...Show less
University of Mount Olive
University of Mount Olive

College is the most exciting time of a person's life. It really is. Exciting is not always a positive feeling though. Excited is a feeling that can be associated with nervousness, anxiety and more. Here are some real tips for college freshman that go beyond the typical, "Go to class," lecture.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The 5 Pros and Cons Of Long Distance Friendships

Being friends with someone thousands of miles away has its drawbacks and perks.

1219
friends on the beach

True friendship is incredibly rare, and to find a friend that will be there for you through all of life's curveballs is something quite unique. To add distance into the equation, maintaining a real, true friendship can be a struggle. There are good and bad parts that come with long distance friendship.

Keep Reading...Show less
high school girls
Tori Horne

Friendship. It's defined as the state of being attached to another person by feelings of affection or personal regard, but what really is friendship? Is it that occasional hallway talk with that one person who always manages to cheer you up? Is it that relationship you have with someone where they can be gone for a long period of time, but when they come back, it's like they never left? Is it spending every waking hour with someone, and knowing every detail about their life? Is it the relationship that's filled with fighting, but filled with even more resolution? I've learned that it's all of these things, and every friendship is different. It's a beautifully dysfunctional mess that should always be cherished and never be taken for granted.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments