Thinking of adopting? Adopt from a shelter

Before you head out to the shelter, it's a good idea to have your home already prepared for his arrival—just in case. In addition, it's best if you've already purchased the items he'll need to make the smoothest possible transition.

Try, try again

Try not to go to the shelter expecting to find “your dog” the first time, because you may not—although it is difficult to leave without a new family member once you're there. It's important to find the right dog for you; and for you to be the right owner for him. So be prepared to visit as many times as it takes. In the long run, it’ll be worth the wait.

Bring a notepad and pen so you can write down pertinent information and the important questions you'll surely want to ask. And if you can, bring along a digital camera. Some shelters may not let you take shots of their dogs, but most will. Some time spent away from the shelter with your notes and pictures may just make you go back to claim the dog that was meant to be forever yours.

It's very easy to fall in love at first sight, but you should spend time with a dog before adopting him. Look for a dog who's happy and friendly, and avoid aggressive dogs. Many shelter dogs are energetic because they've been confined. If he seems "full of beans," it's no reason to rule him out. If you find one you think is meant for you, you'll set the "application to adopt" process in motion.

This involves some paperwork, including the most important document: the Adoption Questionnaire. This includes a wide range of questions, such as:

• What are your reasons for adopting?
• How many members live in your household?
• How much time do you spend away from your home daily?
• Where will your dog be kept at night?
• Do you rent or own an apartment or house?
• Do you have any other pets? Are they spayed or neutered; are they up to date on vaccinations?
• Have you ever dropped off a pet at a shelter? If so, what were the circumstances?
• Have you ever had pets? If so what happened to them?
• Do you plan to spay or neuter your dog? (Many shelters do this automatically; some don't.)
• Will you be taking him to obedience lessons?

Now, many of these queries may seem like an invasion of privacy, or worse, irrelevant to your particular situation. Keep in mind that the purpose of these questions is to place a dog in the best home for him, weed out people who will potentially abuse their dogs (use them for dog fights, etc.), and to keep the chances of having the dog returned to the shelter as slim as possible.

There's also a certain amount of leeway involved. It's definitely not an exact science.

Short Interview

After the paperwork is complete, a shelter worker will sit down with you and ask a series of questions based on the information you've provided. After that they may phone the other members of your household just to be sure they're really on board. Ultimately, if you're approved, you'll pay a fee (or a donation); sometimes you'll be asked to sign an Adoption Agreement, which is like a contract.

And then—unless he needs to be spayed or neutered first—you can take your very grateful new dog home immediately!

Adopting a dog is a serious years-long commitment. That's why the process is so involved. If you're having second thoughts at any point, listen to your instinct.