Introduction
Most animal shelters have the animals’ best interests at heart. Nonetheless, you should still evaluate a shelter before adopting a dog from their facility. Not all shelters offer the same services, and some shelters fail to stay on top of infectious diseases that affect dogs.
Evaluating the Shelter
The animal adoption services that shelters offer can differ widely between shelters. Some shelters allow potential dog owners to take the dog home for a few days to see if the fit is right; other shelters allow private time between dogs and potential owners only at the shelter. However, some shelters do not offer these options, and pet owners are expected to take a dog without first spending any quality time with it. Obviously, that is an undesirable way to select a companion.
Most shelters offer spay or neuter coupons if the dog is too young to be altered at the time of adoption. Others require that the animal be brought back to their facility to be spayed or neutered. Many shelters only allow adoption after the dog has been microchipped; others leave this option up to the owner. Potential owners should always ask shelters about their particular adoption protocols.
What to Look for in a Shelter
A reputable shelter should be clean and tidy. The animals should be uniformly healthy; sick dogs should be isolated from the general population. The shelter should provide potential owners with all the information they can concerning the dog’s prior history, health and vaccination status. You should be permitted to walk through the facility with guidance and assess whether your next best friend is there. Are the dogs’ coats shiny and noses moist? Are they generally alert and responsive or do they cower? Black dogs are commonly overlooked because they tend to fade into the back of their kennel runs. Of course no shelter is always able to maintain a spotless atmosphere, but the dogs should be well-fed, have free access to clean water and have appropriate beds or bedding. If you see any dogs with weepy eyes, runny noses or coughs, please inform the shelter manager and consider going to a different facility for your adoption, as many canine upper respiratory tract infections are highly contagious between dogs.