Rescue Puppies: How Does The Adoption Process Work?

Several different organizations are devoted to helping place lost, stray and sick or injured dogs with loving families. Animal shelters will care for all breeds, while rescue organizations may be devoted to only specific breeds. Both prepare a dog for potential adoption with training, medical care and by providing a loving environment.

In addition to caring for potential adoptees, animal placement organizations also actively seek families and individuals who want to adopt. They may utilize newspaper or television ads, and some organizations even have web pages with pictures and descriptions of available pets. Potential owners can contact the shelter by phone or email, or make a visit to the shelter to meet an animal face to face.

To protect adopted animals from harm, shelters and rescue organizations often have strict guidelines outlining who can and cannot adopt from them. Below you’ll find several examples of qualifications an animal adoption service may require before allowing you to take one of their animals home.

1) Puppies need constant supervision at first, and cannot stay in a crate for more than a few hours at a time. Someone should be available to stay at home with the new puppy until he’s old enough to spend a full day alone in his crate.

2) Sometimes a shelter may require another dog in the family to help socialize the new puppy. Having a playmate and doggie mentor is a great way to help your puppy grow up happy and well adjusted.

3) If you have young children, a fence may be required for safety and security.

4) You may need to promise to continue to socialize your new puppy and provide him with appropriate professional training.

Potential new pet owners should also be discriminating when choosing an organization from which to adopt. Examine the facilities closely to make sure all the animals are healthy and well cared-for. The facilities should be clean, there should be plenty of activities for the animals, and each one should have a comfortable bed. Good shelters will often give the animals roommates – having two puppies share a crate helps them learn good socialization skills.

Make sure the staff and volunteers are friendly and able to answer your questions. They should be aware of an animal’s history, immunization records and any other information that may be important to you as a future pet owner. They should also be able to offer recommendations for a good veterinarian, groomer and obedience trainer in your area.

After the facility has passed muster, it’s time to begin looking for your new pup. When you find one that appeals to you, observe him for a while to make sure he seems active and healthy. Watch how he interacts with people and other animals, paying special attention to any signs of aggression, excessive anxiety or illness. Spend some time playing with the puppy to make sure he’ll be a good match for your family before you make it official.