Misconceptions about Adopting

There is no shortage of incredible, adoptable animals ready to find a new home. The reality is, the many misconceptions about adoption weigh heavily on those considering to adopt their newest family member. If you or someone you know is considering adopting, we recommend continuing reading to discover the top 3 misconceptions about adopting.

1. You won’t be able to rescue a certain breed
   You’ve decided on a breed of dog that will be the perfect new family member. For example, let’s say one of your family members requires a hypoallergenic dog. Before you rule out adoption, many shelters actually have hypoallergenic dogs and there are many breed specific rescues that have hypoallergenic breeds that would work best for your family. Be sure to get in contact with shelters near you, and research online where the breed you’re looking for is available for adoption.
2. Dogs that are available for adoption have behavioral issues
   It’s important to appreciate that shelters can be incredibly stressful environments for dogs. For example, excessive barking, hyper behavior and overall uneasiness in a dog’s demeanor is more often about a dog’s environment than the dog itself. Because there are so many animals and people coming in and out of shelters, this can create a very stressful situation for the dogs. Many shelters actually ask volunteers to foster a dog for a short period of time to give pets a reprieve from this stressful environment. If you find a dog you love but are worried about adopting because of their behavior, consider fostering the dog for a short period of time. Alternatively, ask staff at the shelter who walk the dogs or play with them outside the shelter how they find the dog’s behavior.
3. There aren’t any puppies available for adoption
   It is true that statistically speaking, there are more dogs at later stages than puppies available for adoption. However, there are still plenty of puppies that come into shelters ready to be adopted. Do some research online to find out what shelters have puppies available for adoption. If there is a specific shelter that you would like to adopt from, let them know you’re very interested in adopting a puppy and see if there’s a way you can stay up to date on when one becomes available.

Now that we’ve covered the top 3 misconceptions about adoption, we urge you to consider adopting if you’re looking for a new furry family member. Remember to do your research and follow up with shelters if you have your heart set on adopting a certain breed or age of dog. We know you will fall in love with your newest family member.