If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry, loving pet to your family, now would be the perfect time to do it. The American Humane Association is celebrating “Adopt-a-Dog” month in October. Likewise, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) celebrates “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.”
The American Humane Association encourages the public to participate in this celebration by doing a few things. First, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group. Second, spay or neuter your dog to prevent the birth of puppies that may have a hard time finding a home. Third, ID your pet so it can be identified if taken to a shelter. And finally, support your local shelter by volunteering or donating money, supplies or food. If you want to help save a dog’s life and enjoy their presence at home, adopting a rescue dog or shelter dog may be an option to consider.
The McAllen vets at Valley Animal Hospital can give your adopted dog the best care. Call us to schedule an appointment.
Dogs Make Great Pets and Are Beneficial to Your Life
From puppies to senior dogs, small to big dogs and all types of breeds with unique personalities, you are likely to find a good match at a shelter or rescue group. Having a dog will brighten your day and add another friend to your life that you can look forward to spending time with. Aside from being loyal pets and protecting you, dogs can also help your health.
A dog can provide emotional support by keeping you company when you’re going through tough times. Also, when out walking or playing with your dog, your physical health is positively impacted. Getting out and moving with your pet can help lower your blood pressure and bad cholesterol if you begin to shed some weight as a result.
Top Reasons for Adopting a Dog
An obvious benefit to adopting a dog is having a loyal companion. However, most importantly, you would have saved that dog from possible euthanization. The American Humane Association states that around 3 to 4 million shelter animals do not get adopted each year and are put down. You can help lower this statistic by choosing to adopt instead of buying a dog.
Not only will you get a perfectly healthy dog when you choose to adopt, you will also get some other services included in the adoption fee. For example, when adopted, most dogs come neutered and vaccinated – some may even also be microchipped. Isn’t that a great deal?
By adopting, you will also be contributing to the downturn of puppy mills. These mills breed dogs for profit and, in turn, may neglect their well-being. The best benefit of adopting, however, is that you will be giving a dog that may have lost all hope a whole new life to enjoy by your side and be happy.
Myths About Shelter Dogs
There exist some myths about shelter and rescue dogs that may prevent some people from looking into adopting in the first place. Some believe that dogs end up in shelter homes because they were strays or were taken in due to aggressive behaviors. The truth is that most dogs have been given up by their owners because they can no longer afford to keep them, they are moving or the dogs are no longer a good fit for their living circumstances.
There is a misconception that shelter dogs are sick and diseased. In actuality, shelters vaccinate dogs against many diseases, including rabies. They also make sure dogs are free of fleas and worms before putting them up for adoption.
While dogs may be older in shelter homes or rescue groups, they can never be “too old.” You can choose from dogs of all ages when going through the adoption process. Sometimes, however, it may be in your best interest to choose older dogs because they are past the puppy stage and may require less training.
Whatever you think your best reason to adopt a dog is, we hope that you understand that adopting one can be an extremely rewarding experience for you and your new pet.
Let Us Care for Your Furry Friend
Once in their new “forever” home, a dog will need routine comprehensive checkups, dental cleaning, vaccinations and other services so they can lead a healthy and happy life. We hope that you will trust our McAllen veterinarians and animal-loving staff to provide your dog with the care it needs. Call our office at 956.787.2709 to schedule an appointment.
