When you think about getting a dog, first you need to consider a few aspects. A dog, and particularly a puppy, means an important level of dedication and effort. This can modify your lifestyle a lot.
Dogs have an infinite capacity to offer love. However, please remember they depend on you for their needs.
Your dog needs walks, a bath, a brushing, and a nail cutting, and teeth cleaning. You need to play with your dog and have them socialize with other dogs. These activities will become part of your life for approximately 10 years. You will also need to take them to the vet.
How and where to adopt a dog
If you consider all these aspects and still would like to adopt a dog, currently, there are multiple shelters, animal associations, and foundations that offer the possibility of adopting dogs from various ages, breeds, sizes, and characteristics.
Most of these places have a website that allows you to have access to adoption of dog profile information such as age, size, background, and traits. Some sites even allow you to narrow down your search based on predetermined filters.
If the selected shelter is nearby, you should visit the place and receive customized guidance. You should consider that some of them allow you to get acquainted with the dog through frequent visits before and until the adoption takes place. This helps you get to know them and determine if the relationship will be a healthy one.
Cost of adopting a dog
There may be a cost associated with the age of the dog to be adopted. Dogs over 10 years old do not incur cost to you. The cost, if any, may be associated with the vet care received until the adoption, which includes vaccines, sterilization, and dog deworming.
If you choose a puppy, you will be given the chance to choose your own vet for sterilization when the dogs are mature enough for the procedure.
Steps to adopt a dog
Once you have made your selection, the adoption process begins and it may have the following steps:
A questionnaire to evaluate your willingness to adopt.
A home visit for personal contact, which is intended to verify the environment and determine that it will be a suitable home for the dog.
A contract signature which embodies the commitment to responsibilities that both parties will have. This contract is meant to prevent future abandonment or unfair treatment be it physic or physical.
Payment and delivery of the adopted dog.
In most cases, the institution will initially arrange to follow up visits to ensure the adoption process is successful and to offer advice if needed.
The new owner usually sends photos or videos of the new home member to show the success of the process.
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