According to the Humane Society of the United States, 6-8 million animals end up in the shelters and about half of those animals will never be adopted. About 25 percent of pets in shelters are purebreds, some of these animals are abandoned and others come from breed-specific groups. Most shelter and rescue groups conduct thorough behavioral analysis of each pet to ensure they are a right fit for your family. These same groups can provide advice and additional help to ensure that the relationship with your new pet is the best it can be for the rest of the pet’s life and you don’t have to go at it alone.
There are reasons why people are looking for a specific dog for adoption. According to the study “Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States,” 26.8% of people think that the most important reason a specific dog was chosen was appearance. 18.5% of people think personality and temperament of a dog were the most important factors. 11.3% of people think that behavior of a dog was the most important factor that impacted their adoption choice. And only 8.7% of people chose their dogs due to its child friendly behavior.
Pet adoption is not an easy process, sometimes you can’t find the one you are looking for right away. Sadly shelters receive new animals every day and it’s worthwhile to keep checking back or to be placed on a wait list, so you can kept aware of any potentials that match your preferences. Organizations such as the shelterpetproject.org can help you prepare your home for the arrival of your pet and how to help them adjust to their new home.
The question to ask is what kind of pet is the best fit for your home. Do you have enough time to devote to the daily needs of a dog, including the walking and waste pick-up. Does anyone have allergies to consider when choosing a pet. Doing your research in advance will make your search easier and increase your chances that your new pet will be in their forever home.
