He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
- Unknown
As a shelter scout and adoption facilitator, I run across hundreds of homeless animals who need homes. The local shelters and rescue groups have a never-ending supply of dogs and cats just waiting for new guardians.
Before you go to the pet store or an unprofessional breeder for your next four-legged family member, research your local shelter or rescue. Afraid of the common misconceptions surrounding "pound pups?" Don't be. Shelter dogs are mainly in that situation because their former owners didn't care enough about them to keep them safe and in loving environments. Shelter dogs do not all have issues and problems. They are not all Cujos or high-strung freaks. With a lot of love, some patience and some training, these "unwanted" dogs can become the best pets you'll ever have. For more information (and inspiration), read my shelter dog story from Dog Fancy Magazine.
Check out these sites when you're ready to adopt (and don't forget about your local animal shelter):
