Where Can You Adopt a Puppy or Dog?

There are lots of places where you can adopt your new puppy or dog, so it can get pretty overwhelming. Sometimes knowing exactly what kind of dog and what age you want can narrow down your choices, but you should still do research and shop around. The more open minded you are about the dog breed, age, and sex, the easier the process might become! Below is a rundown on the more common avenues people take when adopting their new dog.

FRIENDS

Most polls and data seem to support that a majority of people find puppies and dogs through friend networks. Either a friend or a friend of a friend has found an abandoned stray and you take it in, or you specifically ask around within your circle of friends for anyone who might have a knocked up dog about to give birth or has already given birth.

When adopting your pet from a friend or personal contact, you can probably get a pretty good deal on price, you'll most likely be able to see and meet the puppy's parents, and chances are you won't have to travel very far for the dog. Also, if your friend found a stray, you'll be saving the dog from a trip to the pound. It's a win-win!

However, keep in mind that you won't have as much choice on breed, sex, or age when adopting from a family member or friend. You can either be patient and wait to hear through the grapevine that a particular breed has been put on the market, or you can just take the first fuzzy thing that needs a home!

BREEDERS

Many of those people who had no luck finding what they want from their friends (or those without friends) seem to be looking to professional breeders for their new dogs. Coming in as the second most popular adoption route, breeders offer people a lot of advantages that you just can't get anywhere else.

For one, you'll be able to find almost any breed you want. A quick search engine hunt will yield dozens of breeders that offer the breed you want. And most of them offer safe (though not always that cost-efficient) shipping methods.

Breeders also often times offer health guarantees with their puppies for peace of mind. Furthermore, most breeders LOVE dogs and know how to treat them right! They take great care of their mommy and daddy dogs and also do a great job of weaning the puppies until they are sold.

The down side of adopting from breeders is that you probably won't be finding the cheapest price, especially if the dog has to be shipped. We recommend that you drive and pick up the dog whenever possible. Road trip!

PET STORES

Buying from pet stores seems to be losing popularity - in fact it is the least popular place for people to adopt dogs. The reason for this is because the stigma around Puppy Mills.

Many pet stores get their puppies from Puppy Mills. These Puppy Mills treat dogs like reproducing machines and nothing more. The dogs are often malnourished and abused, kept in small cages and used for breeding until they can breed no more, and then they are put down. As more knowledge about Puppy Mills came out and people became informed, fewer people were going to Pet Stores.

It is important to note that not all Pet Stores acquire their puppies from mills, so it's crucial that we not generalize all Pet Stores. You should just be aware of the potential issue and educate yourself before buying from a Pet Store.

Also, Pet Stores generally have the highest costs dogs.

SHELTERS/RESCUES

It seems more and more people are discovering the advantages of rescuing a dog from shelters or rescue organizations. The misconceptions of rescue dogs are being debunked and many people are finding their perfect pet from a shelter...but there are still millions of dogs being killed every year in pounds and shelters!

Not only are you saving a dogs life, but you are also saving a lot of money. Though most rescue pets come with an adoption fee (and rightfully so!), you will still be paying much, much less than compared to breeders and pet stores.

And if you don't think you can get a purebred dog from a shelter you are just plain wrong! About 25% of dogs left at shelters are pure breeds! And I would be remiss if I didn't also say that mutts make some of the best pets out there!

Another advantage of rescuing a dog is the possibility of missing the puppy stage. Sounds like a disadvantage, eh? Well...now think of all the little messes that puppy would leave you, the shredded pillows, the slobbered slippers. Puppies are great but they are a lot of work. Rescuing an adult dog will prove better than you'd think!

Everyone has different tastes and needs, so there is no right or wrong answer here. It is important that you are aware of all the different adoption routes you can take and that you educate yourself on what will be best for you and your new dog! Good luck and happy adopting!

Peter is a pet blog editor and proud rescue dog owner! You can read his advice regarding pets and pet adoption at the http://www.recycler.com blog.