Adopt Me, Please?

So, you want a dog? To show, perhaps hoping to make some money from stud fees, or puppies, after a long and successful career? Good luck.

No? What you want is a furry friend and companion, a pet? So why look for a pedigree dog? Have you seen how far away the breeders live, and how much they cost? Can you guarantee they're a reputable breeder, not a puppy farmer? Not that far from where you live there's sure to be a sanctuary, which will have, depending on its size, anything from a few to hundreds of dogs all desperately looking for a new home. You've probably talked about the size, and perhaps even the gender of the dog you want. The staff there may be able give you a good idea of the dog's character. They may not, of course, if the animal was brought in as a stray. But if you pay hundreds for a puppy can you guarantee it's character?

Perhaps you're unsure why a dog would turn up in a sanctuary. Well, thousands of dogs are abandoned every year, many for no better reason than the fluffy, bouncy puppy grew and needed more exercise than they could give it. Or they were going away and couldn't afford, or couldn't be bothered to afford, kennel fees. There's nothing wrong with the dog that loving kindness won't cure. Believe me, I've had a series of dogs through my life, all adopted, all wonderful companions. So go to the sanctuary and take a look. Just hope that the pair of soulful eyes which grab your heart belong to a dog which fits what you were looking for.

Don't set too much store by first impressions. My wife and I went to a sanctuary, looking for a dog, and saw this bedraggled bundle of brown fur sitting in a puddle in the corner of one kennel. Brought in last night, the sanctuary owner told us, and still watching for his people to come back. When we tickled his ears through the wire he gave us a quick lick, then went back to his watching.

Jasper came home with us. For some weeks, though, whenever we took him for a walk he would set off happily. When we turned back his head drooped. We weren't going to meet his people, after all. He settled, eventually, and we shared several years of happy fun and fellowship until he left us for the great kennel in the sky.

Dave Smith
Fern's List - THE place for quality pet products on the Internet
http://www.fernslist.com