Most people that are considering getting a dog want to get a puppy because a puppy is a cute, clean slate that we can easily visualize turning into the perfect dog when it grows up. First-time dog owners, especially, can think of nothing else but that cute puppy that they will soon call their very own. But before we discuss options for where to find you a good puppy, let me first make a case for adoption, to perhaps convince you that a shelter dog or a rescue is an option to consider.
Where do shelter dogs come from?
In the Philippines, the primary reason that dogs end up in shelters is because of uncontrolled mating and reproduction of domestic dogs. Accidental or unplanned litters of puppies of owned dogs as well as litters of stray dogs results in hundreds of dogs ending up without a home every year. Our local shelter volunteers and other citizens concerned for animal welfare work hard to rescue many of these strays off the streets where it is unsafe for them, and where they can also contribute to public health problems by spreading diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis and other diseases transmissible from dogs to humans. But despite their efforts, hundreds more roam freely on the streets. They have no human family to go home to, and no assurance of shelter nor food. They are constantly at risk of being run over by vehicles or of succumbing to starvation or disease. Many are subjected to abuse from cruel humans that have no regard for animal life. Aside from the strays, shelters also rescue dogs from neglectful and abusive owners who do harm to animals because of their ignorance stemming from a lack of education or a general inability to provide adequate care.
For the dogs that do end up in shelters, there is hope to find a forever home. However, because of the high number of dogs filling shelter kennels, and because shelter resources are limited, there is a need to find homes for dogs quickly to make room for other animals coming in. This is where you as a prospective dog owner, with your ability and willingness to provide a home to an animal, can be helpful.
My Dog Adoption
Do shelter dogs and rescues make good pets? Absolutely. My own dog Tramp who passed away in 2023 was a shelter dog that I adopted when he was close to a year old. I was told he was one of several pups abandoned in a dumpster. He got along great with my other dog Ollie and he was also friendly to my adopted cats.
Tramp wasn’t perfect, as many of my students who met him know, he had a temper around energetic young dogs and was specifically reactive to other dogs being walked on leash. But he was far from truly aggressive and mostly just made a lot of noise. Although I had to be mindful of his reactivity, it was still a very small downside compared to how wonderful of a dog he was – easily trained, very loving and sweet.
My two current dogs Oshin and Kimchi are also adopted. Oshin was a stray that followed me home one day and then never left, and Kimchi was birthed by a street dog in our neighborhood that I befriended and eventually had spayed. Oshin is ridiculously toy-driven and loves to play and run, while Kimchi is shy around humans but always willing to work for a treat. With some training, they have both turned out to be amazing family dogs that know basic obedience and home manners, and they also get along well with my adopted cats.
I hope you can see from Tramp, Oshin and Kimchi’s example that adopting merits at least some consideration. If you’re worried that a shelter dog might, like Tramp, come with behavioral issues, don’t be. Rescuers and shelter staff do their best to evaluate their rescues to see if they are fit to join a family, and to rehabilitate them or match them with experienced dog owners if they need special care.
Shelter dogs and rescues are not second-rate pets. They can be as good a companion animal, and sometimes even better than a puppy you buy from a breeder.
Reasons for Considering Adoption
Know what you’re getting
If you’ve been considering getting a puppy of a certain breed, it’s probably because you want to know exactly what your dog is going to look like. But what better way to be assured of your dog’s physical appearance than by getting him or her when he or she is already full grown? There aren’t going to be any surprises left. No changes in coat color, no guessing at the height and build.
No one will have a dog just like yours, especially if you are adopting an Aspin (a Philippine Native Dog) or a mixed breed dog. You’ll know straight away if your dog is long-coated or short-coated, floppy-eared or with ears erect. Aside from being able to determine the physical appearance of your dog, you’ll also – with the help of shelter staff – be able to tell if your dog is energetic or laid back, if he/she prefers brisk, long walks or if he/she will be satisfied with a casual stroll around the block.
Foster before committing
Many shelters, because they want to be sure their charges are going to homes and families that are a perfect fit for them, will allow you to foster a dog as sort of trial period to see if you and a certain shelter dog are going to be well-suited to each other. You can either visit them a few times at the shelter before making a final decision to adopt them, or you can foster them for a few weeks and see how that works out. The great thing about this set up is that in some way even the dog has a say in whether or not he or she feels comfortable going home with you.
Another reason why you would want to “try out” a dog first is because you or a family member may have allergies. The cause of allergies can be very specific, and if you’ve been breaking into sneezing fits around certain dogs it’s not necessarily because you’re allergic to all dogs. You might just be allergic to a certain few. If so, there’s no need to deny yourself the joy of dog ownership. Foster a shelter dog and see if you develop any reactions, if not, it must mean you and that rescue were made for each other!
Fostering is also something to consider if you already have resident pets. For instance, some adult dogs will have little patience for a bouncy little puppy, but pick the right rescue that complements your resident dog’s personality and they might effortlessly and instantly bond for life.
Ask your local shelter what options they have for you for how you can meet and interact with the animals in their care.
Mature dogs take less effort
Mature, adult dogs – provided that they don’t already have medical or behavioral issues – won’t be as time-consuming and as expensive to take care of as young puppies. Most of the naughty chewing, nipping, and other playful yet destructive habits that little puppy monsters are known for will no longer be demonstrated by a mature adult dog. They’ll just be happy to quietly settle into your home. Some are even already potty trained! Senior shelter dogs, especially, should be considered if you are looking for a calm and quiet companion with whom to share leisurely strolls and restful evenings at home.
Shelter dogs are less expensive
If money has been a constraint for you in getting a dog, consider adopting. This is NOT to say that the dog you will be adopting will cost less to care for. As I have said, shelter dogs, be they Aspins, mixes or purebreds, are not second-rate dogs, nor do they deserve second-rate care. When you adopt a dog from a shelter, you will still have to demonstrate your ability to adequately provide for your dog’s needs. However, the adoption fee required to acquire a shelter dog is much less expensive than the cost of buying a purebred puppy, and – depending on your shelter’s policies – your rescue will already be vaccinated, dewormed and spayed/neutered by the time they go home with you, saving you quite a considerable amount of money.
You’ll be saving a life
Alright, so I had to sneak this one in there, a small attempt to guilt you into adopting. However, this is true: whenever you adopt a dog, you are potentially saving more than just one life – you are saving the life of the dog you adopted and that of the rescued stray that can now take your dog’s place and have his/her turn at finding a forever home. While I am unaware of any scientific studies supporting these observations, many are the anecdotes that tell of adopted shelter dogs demonstrating boundless devotion to their new families. I hope you give yourself a chance to be a recipient of that sort of immeasurable love and loyalty.
I hope you truly take the time to consider adoption as an option, and sincerely hope that yours will become a shelter dog’s home someday. It is an enriching experience for the soul to adopt, love and care for a shelter animal.
EXERCISE:
Visit your local shelter’s website and browse through their gallery of dogs for adoption OR visit the shelter in person and interact with some of the animals to see if your new dog might be there waiting and ready to find his forever home with you.
Below is a list of local shelters or rescue organizations (in the Philippines) that you can contact or visit.