Dog Fancy

Top 35 Tips for Rescue and Shelter Adopters

Sept. 30, 2004

By Kyra Kirkwood

Across the country, rescue organizations and community shelters house amazing, loving dogs just waiting for adoptive families to find them. So when it comes time to expand your four-legged population, take a moment and review some top adoption tips from shelter experts and rescue coordinators. After all, the next love of your life may be sitting in the county shelter or in a rescue organization's foster home, biding time until you find him.

SNIFF AROUND FIRST

Shelters and rescues are often filled with highly adoptable dogs. It's wrong to think that only "Cujo" resides at these facilities. In reality, many dogs wind up there after their owners die, move away or redecorate the house (true story). Others come in off the streets, histories unknown.

"We get wonderful animals through here, and most are strays," said Virginia Dalton, animal care supervisor at the Seattle Animal Shelter in Seattle, Wash.

Know the difference between shelters and rescues. County or city shelters must take in all dogs and all temperaments, purebred rescues focus on a particular breed and mixed-breed rescues take in adoptable mutts regardless of lineage. You'll find the greatest variety and quantity of dogs at your community shelter—purebreds, mutts, old, puppies, big, tiny—but you'll usually know little about the animal's history, quirks or past medical issues. Rescues often receive dogs turned in by their owners, who supply vet records, personality profiles and, sometimes, AKC paperwork. You'll pay less at a shelter to adopt. Rescues charge more and require an in-depth adoption process, but often act as matchmaker between dog and adopter.

Do your homework. Write down what kind of life you lead: gone all day, kids always underfoot, quiet, constant dinner parties. Do you need a dog that's good with cats? Social or quiet? What activities do you do (jog, hike, watch television)? Search the AKC website (http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm) for breeds possessing those characteristics. Visit a local breed club or rescue group in your area to ask questions of these knowledgeable folks. If you can't decide on a certain breed, look for a pooch mixed with your top choices, say experts.

Think long-term. A dog is a 10-15 year commitment. Don't go into this relationship lightly.

READY, SET, WAG

Don't fear the red-tape part of the adoption process, because it's all done to secure the best, permanent home for the dog. It's not a personal attack against you—it's about the dog and his best interests.

"We want to make sure the family is a good match and make sure this [dog] is a new family member. Our focus is the dog. It has to be, in rescue," said Allyn Ritz, volunteer and foster/family coordinator for Ventura County and Santa Barbara Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue.

Remember that every organization is different. Some require only an adoption fee, others mandate a meeting with every member of your household—two- and four-legged. Keep in mind it's all done to secure a forever home for the dog.

Plan ahead. Consider filling out the rescue group's application before you start looking for a dog. This way, you'll be through the pre-approval process and ready to adopt when you do fall in love with a pair of floppy ears.

"Don't wait until the perfect dogs comes along," advised Ritz. "This process takes time."

Be honest on the application. Many are detailed, asking for information about the kind of dog you're looking for, the type of life you lead, what your yard and fencing look like, your past canine experiences—many things you've already thought about during your initial research phase.

"There's no right or wrong to any of it," assured Faith Maloney, animal care director for the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. "It's just a springboard for conversation."

Home checks and interviews aren't scary, but a necessary part of the matchmaking process. Rescue representatives are not critiquing your housekeeping or decorating sense, but your home's ability to safely house a dog and your family's readiness for it.

"What we're looking for mostly is security," said Maloney, noting that gates and fencing are top priorities.

9. Contracts are beneficial to all parties—you, the rescue organization and the dog. These useful tools insure that the dog will be safe and taken care of for the rest of his life. A majority of rescue-group contracts state that at any time, if you are unable to care for the dog, the group will take him back.

"This is a security for both of us," said Maloney. "Life happens. It is reassuring for both parties to know that that dog will not get lost in the shuffle."

PUPPY LOVE

Ditch beauty—choose personality. Experts agree that picking a dog on appearance alone is a sure recipe for unhappiness. There's nothing wrong with wanting a certain type of dog, but keep an open mind. Going with the dog's temperament is vital.

"That's the key: finding the dog that will fit best with your family," said Ritz.

Keep an open mind. Try not to be too inflexible with color, sex or other appearance factors.

"You never know who you're going to fall in love with," Ritz said. "When it's the right dog, you know it. If you're open to a relationship, sometimes the dog you're supposed to have will make the first move."

Trust rescue workers to direct you in the right direction—and point you toward the right dog. This is especially vital if you have certain non-negotiable needs (good with two-year-old boys, adores cats, etc.)

Sit, shake, fetch. At a shelter, ask to play with the dog outside the kennel, perhaps in a small fenced area or, better yet, away from the raucous of the other dogs. Watch how he reacts to them as he passes. Ask if you can treat, and watch his food behavior. See what obedience commands he can do and how he responds to you and your touch.

The past does not equal the future. Remember that many of these dogs have had no training, but they can learn. They may have been abused or abandoned, but they can forgive.

"Dogs are prone to live in the here and now, thank goodness," said Maloney. "Sure, they have had some shaping from their past, but even senior dogs are ready and willing to take on new experiences."

Look past the stress. Shelters are high-anxiety places for many dogs, so you might not get an ideal picture of the dog's personality there. But you can search for clues. Even with other dogs distracting him, does he pay attention to you when you call him? If so, that's a good sign.

Use your sources. Ask representatives about him and how he is around other dogs, on walks, around food, older people, etc. Some shelters place notes on the dogs' kennels, describing quirks and traits. With a rescue dog, talk to his foster family, who will be invaluable at providing a slew of details.

"A good rescue organization will have been working with that dog and be aware of his or her proclivities before you get to meet [him]," said Maloney. "This is a good thing about adopting from a reputable organization, as they will want to tell you everything they have learned about that animal."

Ask about potential issues you might face. Some dogs have shown shelter staff or foster families certain traits (shoe-eating, aversion to strangers, etc.) This will help you be prepared and know what areas you may need to work on later.

Be patient. Don't expect to spend five minutes at a shelter and find the perfect dog. Invest the effort, and you'll be rewarded with a great new family member.

"If people take the time and keep coming back, they will find the perfect dog," said Dalton. "And there is a perfect dog for everyone."

Don't overlook seniors. It's a myth that the only good dogs to come out of shelters or rescues are puppies. Pups require an enormous amount of time, effort and training, whereas the adult dog is less of a mystery.

"You have a better idea what the final product is [with a full-grown dog]," said Dalton.

Gather up information about the dog's health. Dogs turned in by their owners will often come with medical records, giving you a detailed history. But strays and other relinquished dogs have no known medical info. Talk to the shelter or rescue veterinarian who first treated the dog. Most organizations spay or neuter dogs, give them routine vaccinations and a general health check up prior to adoption. See if he is being treated for any illness, and what it means long-term. Many groups, such as Best Friends, print out a health record for your own veterinarian.

HOME SWEET HOME

Be grateful you found your new family member. Spend a moment giving him some well-deserved love.

Meet and greet, on leash. If you have another dog at home, introduce them on neutral ground, such as a park. Keep both dogs leashed and let them say hello. Walk with humans on the inside, dogs on the outside until everyone is acquainted.

Keep leashes on. When entering the home for the first time with both dogs, keep their leashes on so you can correct any problem that might occur. Also, having a leash on your new dog is ideal, say experts, because it allows you to quickly snuff out any questionable behavior without grabbing for the dog and frightening him. Dalton recommends tying the leash to your beltloop, tethering to dog to you for the first few days. Remember not to leave correction collars on unsupervised.

Don't let them rule the roost. Allowing a new dog free run of your house is a sure bet for disaster. Watch him at all times until you learn his personality, and he earns your trust and learns the rules. Hence, the beltloop trick.

Keep it quiet. Don't host a slumber party on your dog's first night home, or drag him to a popular dog beach. Keep things calm for a week or two, say experts, in order for him to mesh with your family and its routine.

Start a consistent routine, pronto. Begin rules and structure immediately so the dog can learn and adapt to your schedule. Don't let him sleep on your bed "just one night" if you don't want him there every night after.

"If you're patient and let them know the rules, you won't have any trouble," said Dalton.

Recognize training setbacks will happen with any dog, regardless of breed or background.

Positively reinforce good behavior. Use high-value treats and praise, never violence.

Enroll in a basic obedience class, no matter how old your new dog is. This not only secures good habits and self-confidence, but it bonds you two together.

Turn to the rescue group for help. Many are willing to meet or talk with you about concerns, training issues or behavioral problems. Or just call to give an update—most rescues love hearing happy stories about their "fur babies."

Stay calm. Dogs pick up on your tension. Relax, and so will he.

"A lot of people overly panic," said Lisa Lee, president and founder of the mixed-breed Underdog Rescue in Orange County, Calif. "Make light and happiness about things. If you come at it from a loving approach and act fairly normal in the beginning, he won't get [alarmed]."

Again, be patient. It often takes shelter dogs and rescues weeks, if not months, to feel comfortable and secure in their new homes, allowing their personalities to blossom. You need to be patient and comforting.

"Most of them are still truly grieving for their families," said Dalton. "They need patience—the rules are changing. Any dog will learn new rules, but you have to be fair and patient with them."

Settling down takes time. Lee noted that often, a dog is so overly grateful for this second chance, he acts a bit over the top and needs some guidance to settle in.

"One month and lots of love and care can just transform a dog completely," she said. "They finally start to trust."

Integrate the dog into routine.

"Having them share your life is the best gift you can give them," said Maloney. "An included dog is a happy dog."

"Second-chance dogs" don't forget the gift. Many experts say these dogs remember where they once were, and are eternally grateful to have finally found a home. This makes them eager to please, and quick to love.