Adopting a dog is one way to add a pet to your life. The decision to adopt a dog is one that should be carefully thought out and well-planned. Once you have made the decision to adopt, doing it safely is the way to go.
Research
Adopting a dog safely ensures that both you and the dog have found a good match. The best way to start is by doing your research. Research the different breeds of dogs and make sure that your family will match the personality of the breed. If the breed of dog is not a concern to you, then just make sure when you do go looking for an adoptable dog you find one that has a temperament that will adjust to your lifestyle.
Safe Methods to Adopt
Unfortunately there are a lot of scams out there. Don't be fooled. Don't ever send money to anyone without confirming they are a legitimate adoption organization. In order to avoid scams, try using local resources first. Visit your local animal rescue organization. If they don't have a dog you are interested in, keep visiting. New dogs are always coming into the shelter system. If you have your heart set on a particular breed, most breeds have local and regional rescue organizations. You might see ads for dogs available for adoption or someone in a parking lot, with a sign that reads, "free to a good home." This is not a safe way to go about adopting a dog. If the dog gets sick or becomes aggressive you would have no recourse. It is highly unlikely that these folks have been trained to correctly evaluate a dog for personality and temperament. Additionally, if the dog gets sick you will have nowhere to turn. That's why it's extremely important that you adopt a dog from a reputable rescue organization.
Home Safe and Sound
A reputable rescue organization will evaluate all of the dogs that come into their system. Many of the dogs will be fostered and therefore they will have additional information about the dog's personality. For instance, if you have children and they see that the dog is not good with children then that is not the dog for you. They will also ask you a lot of questions. Have you ever owned a dog? Do you have a fenced-in yard? Can you take financial responsibility for the dog? All of these things are in place to ensure not only that you are safe, but also that the dog gets placed in a safe environment. Websites like Petfinder.com have lots of information about the process of safely adopting a dog.
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