What to look for in dogs adoption shelters?

Answer 1

Well, it really depends what type of adoption center. A pet store- NO! Most of these animals come from puppy mills or kitty farms.

Choose a really nice Humane Society with clean facilities that don't smell bad. Observe the animals behavior (do they act depressed or do they come to the cage front to greet you?) Ask the staff if you can hold the animal and observe how it interacts with you and the other people and animals in the room.

Answer 2

There are two main types of animal shelters, those that euthanize their animals after a set amount of time has gone by, and those that don’t. Those that don’t euthanize are called no-kill shelters. Some people refer to the others as “kill” shelters; if you ask the staff at one of these places, they will probably say they’re “not no-kill.” Good pets can be found at either kind of shelter. Sometimes, in fact, you will want to visit both kinds, especially if you visit one local shelter and can’t find an animal that you like.

Before visiting a shelter, you can check out the animals on www.petfinder.com. Also check out Petfinder’s resources on how to choose the best dog or cat, found by clicking on “before you adopt.” When choosing a shelter, look for one that’s clean and not smelly. Make sure the animals aren’t sick; check the eyes and nose for discharge, and make sure the ears are clean. Yours might be sick too, even if she doesn’t look it yet, and you don’t want to have a sick dog or cat when you get home. Make sure you don’t wear perfume, because it can affect how the animal interacts with you; dogs and cats have sensitive noses. Sometimes shelter life can stress out the animals, so take that into account when evaluating them. You should also ask the staff if the animal you’re evaluating has any behavior problems; they should know, especially if the animal was brought in because of it.

One of the advantages of no-kill shelters is that the volunteers and staff there really get to know the animals, and can tell you their positive qualities and bad habits. That doesn’t mean you should avoid kill shelters though! When you adopt an animal from a kill shelter, you’re literally saving its life. On the other hand, when you adopt from a no-kill shelter, you free up space for another animal that doesn’t have to go to a kill shelter, thereby saving its life. Either is a good option. Just look for the animal that suits you.