Adopting A Shelter Dog: Be Prepared To Ask A Lot Of Questions
Written by Billie Johnson Friday, 17 June 2011 06:11
I am pretty sure that you have some positive and negative perceptions on the animals that are in the pet shelter. You might be thinking that they are very unruly and just simply unfit for any home. But, the idea of adopting a pet is appealing since you will be saving a dog's life.
Have you finally decided to adopt a dog?
I'm sure it may take a bit more persuasion for some of you to open up your hearts and minds to adopting a shelter dog, but for the rest of you who have decided that you want to adopt a dog who needs a home badly, make sure that you approach the staff with a few questions before making your decision.
Never forget to ask first about what kind of medical treatment the dogs are provided in the shelter. This will give you an idea of how much medical treatment you will have to fill in once the dog in living with you already.
What should you look for
The pet shelter where you'd like to get a dog should have a vet all the time. This is because there are so many animals that need attention. You must talk to the vet and ask whether the blood of the dog has been screened for heart worms and if they are free from fleas and other parasites. Just ask whatever health related question that you might want to ask.
The above suggested questions are just the simple ones that you must know. You might want to ask other more complex questions.
Never forget to...
Another important set of questions and research that you should talk with your local animal shelter about is whether or not they have a professional who evaluates each dog's temperament. Most shelters have this information posted on the front of each cage that is designated to the specific dog, or other animal.
The information that you will get will help you assess and evaluate if you will really adopt the dog or not. Try to know about the dog's behavior in detail because if you have children in the house, your children might be frightened by the new pet.
About the Author:
Looking for an expert in dog training hand signals? Ed Randall won't upset you. He has been teaching aggressive dog training along with many other tricks that will make your dog become a more pleasant companion.