How to Adopt a Rescue Puppy

If you are looking for a new puppy, you should consider that a new puppy for the family can come from a shelter or breed rescue group. While the shelter accepts all breeds that it receives, rescue groups will accept only one specific breed, for example miniature schnauzers. Both attempt to prepare their animals the best they can to be adoptable.

At the same time that a shelter or rescue group prepares a puppy or dog for adoption, they also try to find acceptable adopters. Both types of organizations place advertisements on the web and in local newspapers that describe available animals. Potential adopters can respond by phone, e-mail, or visit in person.

However, not all who want to adopt make the grade. Most facilities have very strict guidelines and restrictions on who gets one of their puppies. The following criteria is standard for people looking to adopt a pup from a high-quality shelter or rescue group:

1) A stay-at-home parent should be present. This is because puppies shouldn’t stay alone in a crate any longer than a few  hours.

2) It helps if there is  another dog in the family that the new puppy can learn from. This helps immensely in the pup’s socialization.

3) A fence is required if there are children in the house younger than the age of six.

4) And finally, a promise from the adopter to continue socialization and a willingness to take the pup to professional dog training.

Just as rescue groups and animal shelters are careful about who can adopt their puppies, potential adopters should be equally particular when they adopt a puppy.

1) There should be co-housing at the shelter. Puppies housed with other puppies is critical for proper socialization.

2) The premises should be clean, and there should be appropriate toys and bedding with the puppies.

3) There should be a program or schedule for getting the puppies out of their cages to play with people and investigate different sights and sounds.  

4) You should be greeted by a pleasant and knowledgeable staff member or volunteer. Both shelters and rescue groups should be able to tell you why the puppy was brought there.  The should also provide confirmation that the puppy has received its immunizations.

Once the shelter or rescue group passes your approval,  you should carefully look at the puppy you are interested in before making a final decision. A puppy that shows signs of illness or poor care should be avoided. The dog should look healthy,  not have any diarrhea on his rear end or hind legs, should show an interest in you, and be active.

Providing a new home for a shelter puppy or dog is an admirable thing for a dog lover to do and will help brighten the future for you and a once neglected but noble animal.  Nothing you do will satisfy you more !