National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

            According to American Humane, 3-4 million animals wait in shelters for new homes each year. This holiday has been recognized every October since 1981. This is an attempt to bring awareness to the millions of animals that are awaiting a kind and loving home. There are a lot of things to consider when bringing a new pet into your household but this October I strongly encourage you to consider welcoming a shelter dog if you can!

            What things should you consider when welcoming a dog into your household? A pet is a big responsibility so you must ensure that you and your family are ready to make that type of commitment. Dogs can live upwards of 10-12 years – depending on the breed – so you must be willing to commit to this when you decide to bring home a new furry friend. You should also consider breeds, size, time, and budget. With some shelter dogs, they sometimes are not exactly sure of the breed of the pet, but they often have a brief history or can decipher some idea based on the looks of the pet. You can also do genetic testing to really narrow it down, but this is costly and is often done after you’ve committed to the dog. Ensure you are educated on the potential breeds and their traits. Often the shelter will have advice and recommendations based on your lifestyle since they know the animals that are in their possession.

            What size is best? This is also something that needs to be considered because certain traits come along with breeds and just like people all dogs are different. Some dogs have different energy needs and requirements. All of this is important to consider when deciding on a new family member. Who will be responsible for walks and playtime? This is an important discussion to have with your loved ones before committing to a new fluffy friend. Is a pet in the budget? You need to consider things like veterinary costs, pet food, treats, and emergencies. Just like people unexpected illness and issues can arise. You always have to ensure you plan for all of that when making this type of a commitment. Personally, I have issues arise with my own pets that I didn’t plan for. Case in point was my 10-year-old English Bulldog that decided one day to eat a mouthful of Kinetic sand. This dog never had done anything like that before but that vet visit alone set us back around $900. We were fortunate that she didn’t require further surgery, but I was not expecting that to happen. Some owners opt for pet insurance and that can be helpful for unexpected things, but it also comes at a price. It’s important to think about all of these things before bringing home that fluffy little bundle.

            So, what if you’re not in the position to adopt a pet…There are still plenty of ways to get involved. You can reach out to local rescues and shelter and see what you can do to help. This can include volunteering time or even making donations. Often shelters have a need for food, towels, blankets, and other donations. So even if you can’t bring a new dog home you can still make a difference in a shelter dog’s life! There are programs that involve walking dogs and even having school age children read with dogs. Any of these can make a difference and bring awareness to the growing volume of pets that end up in shelters each and every year!

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