Why adopt?
"Delightful Unpredictability"
Most people, when thinking about getting a dog, start by thinking small ... as in "puppy." Puppies are irresistibly cute, playful, and "new." You also get the chance to bond with it as it grows into adulthood. So why adopt a shelter dog? Dogs in a shelter have, by definition, been abandoned by someone. Someone who decided they didn't have the time to care for a dog, or decided the new apartment's location was more important than whether the landlord allowed pets.
Sometimes human tragedy makes the dog a victim: The owner dies suddenly, or loses a job and simply can't afford to care for it. Sometimes a dog gets lost and is never reunited with its owner. And sometimes a mean person simply grows tired of abusing a dog and kicks it out of the house. For whatever reason, a dog in a shelter needs a home.
What do you get in return for this "found dog"? To start with, you can see what you're getting: It's size, coloring, length of coat, and personality. But most important is what you can't see: These are dogs that are, above all, willing to please. They want to be loved, and they want to love in return. And they will.
Author Peter Mayle said it best: "A found dog never takes anyone or anything for granted. Somewhere in the deep recesses of the orphan psyche, never entirely forgotten even after years of good living and kindly, obedient owners, memories of hard times linger. And this ... tends to give lost and found dogs a special appreciation of what the world can offer."
A dog in a shelter needs you ... and not too long after taking it home, you'll realize that you needed this dog for all the joy it brings you.
Pet guardianship is a serious commitment that the entire household needs to consider and agree to before the animal is adopted. We want to ensure that each adoptive household is aware of, willing and able to accept the physical and financial responsibility of pet guardianship. Not everyone who desires to adopt a pet is ready to properly care for one. This application will assist both you and us in determining if your household is prepared to assume the role of responsible caretaker for a shelter animal. Please note that applying does not ensure approval and no animal will be adopted to prospective guardians who mislead or fail to provide accurate information on the adoption application.
"Delightful Unpredictability"
Most people, when thinking about getting a dog, start by thinking small ... as in "puppy." Puppies are irresistibly cute, playful, and "new." You also get the chance to bond with it as it grows into adulthood. So why adopt a shelter dog? Dogs in a shelter have, by definition, been abandoned by someone. Someone who decided they didn't have the time to care for a dog, or decided the new apartment's location was more important than whether the landlord allowed pets.
Sometimes human tragedy makes the dog a victim: The owner dies suddenly, or loses a job and simply can't afford to care for it. Sometimes a dog gets lost and is never reunited with its owner. And sometimes a mean person simply grows tired of abusing a dog and kicks it out of the house. For whatever reason, a dog in a shelter needs a home.
What do you get in return for this "found dog"? To start with, you can see what you're getting: It's size, coloring, length of coat, and personality. But most important is what you can't see: These are dogs that are, above all, willing to please. They want to be loved, and they want to love in return. And they will.
Author Peter Mayle said it best: "A found dog never takes anyone or anything for granted. Somewhere in the deep recesses of the orphan psyche, never entirely forgotten even after years of good living and kindly, obedient owners, memories of hard times linger. And this ... tends to give lost and found dogs a special appreciation of what the world can offer."
A dog in a shelter needs you ... and not too long after taking it home, you'll realize that you needed this dog for all the joy it brings you.
Pet guardianship is a serious commitment that the entire household needs to consider and agree to before the animal is adopted. We want to ensure that each adoptive household is aware of, willing and able to accept the physical and financial responsibility of pet guardianship. Not everyone who desires to adopt a pet is ready to properly care for one. This application will assist both you and us in determining if your household is prepared to assume the role of responsible caretaker for a shelter animal. Please note that applying does not ensure approval and no animal will be adopted to prospective guardians who mislead or fail to provide accurate information on the adoption application.
First Few Days
First Weeks to First Months