Dogs are great. Can’t everyone have one? I want one now! Well, adopting a dog isn’t quite as simple as pressing ‘purchase’. But why is this? What is the process for adoption? What do you have to keep in mind? And why is it so hard to adopt a dog?
Table of contents
Adoption vs Purchasing
Where a dog comes from is important. More and more dogs are being born and raised by illegal breeders, and we cannot condone this practice. Legal breeders vary in their level of care, but are still producing more dogs when there are already too many unwanted dogs out there.
Instead, you may want to consider a dog from a rehoming shelter. Some well-known examples in the UK include the Dog’s Trust, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the RSPCA and the Blue Cross. There may be local shelters in your area too and equivalent international charities, such as the ASPCA,
These shelters work tirelessly to rescue abused, mistreated and abandoned dogs, or take in strays. They then adopt them into loving homes. Many are non-profit charities that rely on people donating to keep operating. We know the temptation can be to get a new puppy that has no previous history from a breeder, but the dogs in shelters are often in desperate need of a loving home.
Please consider visiting a shelter before looking for (legal!) private breeders. The rest of this article will detail how adoption from shelters like these work.
Is a Dog Right For You?
“Of course! I love dogs!” Put your credit card away! Adopting a dog is a huge step to make and shouldn’t be trivialised. Far too many people buy dogs without doing any research, leading them to making poor decisions. This is why it probably shouldn’t be an easy process.
Sometimes it is easy to forget what exactly a dog is. A dog is a living, breathing animal that you have to care for up to 16 years (or more if you are lucky!). It will be 100% reliant on you for food, water, companionship, shelter, veterinary care and more. All of this takes time, money and effort. Can you give a dog this? Here’s what you should think about before you get out your wallet.
Consider first why you want a dog
There are a myriad of reasons and plenty are valid, but ask yourself if your particular reasons are enough. During the pandemic, many people have adopted dogs because they want companionship or are lonely. This is great and dogs are a huge lifeline for many people, but is it fair to use a dog just to make you happy? That’s a question you’ll have to judge for yourself.
Others might want a dog for working reasons or for shows or classes. Again, we won’t deny that dogs can enjoy these things, but can you justify owning a dog purely for these reasons? If you can justify that your reason will be a good one for your future dog then it’s probably a good reason.
If you are now fairly certain you want a dog next ask can you own a dog?
Remember what a dog requires. Can you afford a dog? Adopting a dog from a shelter often carries an upfront cost, and food and medical bills can reach hundreds or even thousands per month. And the older your dog gets the more expensive they will likely be. If times get tough can you be sure you can afford to care for your dog?
Here are a few other questions you might want to ask before committing;
- Is your life right for a dog?
- Do you have a big home with plenty of space?
- Is there access to the outdoors?
- Are you away from busy roads?
- Do you have children that might struggle to adjust?
- Are you at work for long periods of the day?
- Do you like to take regular holidays abroad?
- Do you have family members who are afraid of dogs?
There are so so many factors to consider before you get a dog. Of course, no family will be perfect, but will your home environment make it difficult to raise a dog? A dog will change your life – are you okay with this?
What kind of dog do you want?
Big or small? Short- or long-haired? Energetic or docile? For work or for the family? What age? Even what gender? Every dog breed is unique and you should research this thoroughly. Some breeds don’t fit with certain lifestyles. Some breeds carry a lot of health problems and aren’t suitable if you are on a budget.
The Process of Adopting
Now is the time to get even more in-depth. Most adoption centres will have individual dogs up on their websites so you can get to know them. Consider if the personality is a good match for you and your family. Words can say a lot but the best thing you can do is go visit your new potential pet at the shelter (COVID permitting). Don’t discount the dogs that are older, ill or just not perfect – they may have the biggest heart.
Most shelters have a complicated adoption process
This may seem restrictive, but they are designed to ensure dogs get matched with the perfect family to avoid the heartbreak of people handing back dogs a few months later if it doesn’t work out. The forms you fill in will detail every aspect of your life, asking many of the same questions we asked above. The shelters use these to determine which dog would be best suited for your lifestyle. Some may even ask to visit your home (or view a socially-distanced video) to check the environment is safe for a dog.
Unfortunately, this process means the dog you had your eye on may not be suitable for you
You may face being rejected multiple times. Do not be disheartened or take this personally. Remember that the shelters are trying to do what is best for their dogs. It is better to have the temporary upset of being rejected by a shelter than having to distress a dog by handing them back. Ask the shelter for feedback, make changes if you can and keep trying!
If you get the green light from the shelter you can continue with the adoption process. Here is when you can spend the time visiting and taking your chosen dog out for walks. You can’t get to know a dog in one afternoon, so spending time with them before adopting them formally is important. Late stages may involve the dog visiting your home to see what they think.
Adoption!
Success! You have found the perfect dog for you and your family. You’ve been on plenty of walks with them and they seem to love you. The shelter has given you the go ahead to adopt.
Adoption is usually as simple as signing some documents and taking your new friend home with you. As mentioned above, most shelters are not-for-profit and require a set fee for adoption. This is to cover the costs of feeding and caring for the dog while they were at the shelter. It also often covers microchipping, vaccination,
It is usually a few hundred pounds – we would ask that you donate more if you can. Dogs today can sell for thousands of pounds, but shelters try to keep adoption fees low. Anything extra you can give will go a long way to helping other dogs in need.
Of course, remember to prepare your home before your new friend comes back for good. Make sure you have all the food, toys, bedding and everything else they need, get insurance sorted, and register them with your local vet.
Most shelters like to keep in touch with their adopted dogs to see how they are doing. Keeping in contact with the shelter allows you to get advice if you need it, particularly for dogs with specific needs. And the staff will surely love to see how happy your dog is now in their new home.
Final Thoughts
Too often in today’s world, we look for the quick and easy way to do things. When you are dealing with something as precious as a dog’s life, we urge you to be patient and take your time. Ensure you can look after a dog, start the adoption process with a shelter, be prepared to be disappointed a few times, but wait for that perfect dog to come along and make your family whole.
Doing the right thing and adopting a dog from a shelter that really needs you is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It’s hard to adopt a dog but the best things in life are never easy.
Further Reading
- Pet Adoption UK – Dogs, Cats, Rabbits for adoption and rehoming from UK animal charities
- RSPCA – Dog Rehoming And Adoption – How It Works
- Battersea Dogs Home – How to rehome a dog
- Blue Cross Adopt a Dog
- Dogs Trust – Rescue Dogs & Dog Rehoming
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Discussion
I’m sorry but I call BS on shelters and rescues. They make people feel wholly inadequate for wanting to adopt bc they don’t have a 29 acres and a personal dog chef/butler ( I kid). I have a 60 lbs doodle and I live in a two bedroom apartment. This is the most spoiled dog I have seen. She gets a special, cooked diet, tons of toys and treats; she has pet insurance plus a vet-specific wellness plan for teeth cleaning and visits. She goes to the best daycares and boarding facilities. She’s loved abundantly. But bc I live in an apartment and I work as a nurse, most rescues wouldn’t even look at my application. So, I fully support people purchasing the pet they want.
It’s a huge problem. According to my contacts, there are now more people looking for a dog than there are suitable (note!) dogs for rehoming, so many shelters can be really picky.
There are still lots of dogs in shelters – but they are the “hard to home” dogs, with significant medical and/or behavioural problems.
I totally agree with both Ossiana and Anita, its all about money. My wife and I have applied all over for a dog. We have all the things that the charities ask for, no children, we like going for walks, live very near the countryside and have a garden large enough for any dog and yet we have had no joy, so we have given up, especially when one charity told us that we were too old at 70 in case we died before the dog. We really wanted to adopt a dog to give it a good and happy life.The other thing I’m concerned about is that all the charities say they cant respond to requests because they have so many applications, well if they have so many applications so why are some dogs there week after week and month after month.
Im so happy to read that we’re not the only ones facing that situation, We’re looking to adopt a dog at the moment. We gave ourselves 3 months and if we can’t adopt a dog by then we’ll get a puppy.
A particular rescue wants people to apply for each dog you want but will not have time to give you feedbacks/reply if you’re not selected. The fact that they will just ignore you if you’re not a good match or if you’re not good enough is already kinda rude considering that filling an application form correctly can take a lot of time. But fine. However, what I can’t understand is that this lack of communication is just plain negative for the dogs. « You’re not a good match for this dog for this reason » is all people need. Then they can reconsider or improve and actually adopt a dog. And if you help people who are actively trying to adopt then more dogs would be adopted.
I 100% agree, that would be so much better than the current opaque system of too many rescues!
You know, if adoption agencies (or even people) wanted to help animals, they would actually let people adopt easier and lower the fees. I actually had to get therapy after trying to adopt an ESA. After trying to do the right thing and adopt a pet, I will *never* donate to another animal rescue. It’s sick that they’ll take my money but not actually let me help out.
I totally agree with Ossianas comments. So many dogs needing a loving home but it’s utterly depressing when after completing the in depth forms you get no feed back and the poor dog is still there on the site looking for a loving home. I’m an avid dog lover who has had dogs all throughout my adult life. They have all lived long and happy lives yet I feel I’m deemed as unsuitable. You cannot help but take it personally. I beginning to see that it’s the donations they’re after as it doesn’t make any sense. People may think, well there must be some issue with you. But believe me, my dogs had the best food, slept on my bed at their instigation and I paid through the nose to have a lovely holistic vet come to my house to put them to sleep at the end of their old lives. Plus I loved each one dearly as my best mate. Yet, I’m seemingly not enough to rehome a dog from Blue Cross.
my friend also has the same issue, offering a loving secure home with a garden . retired early so plenty of time for walks along the beach and in a good financial position to undertake all vet bills , so why does he constantly fail to meet the criteria.. also not looking for a puppy but an older dog just looking for love and kindness.