How can we prepare ourselves for the adoption of an animal from the refuge?

The bases and shelters for dogs continue to beat the alarm signal on the large number of unwanted and abandoned dogs. Refuges are always overcrowded and an even greater number of dogs without master is by numerous animal bases. The decision to choose a dog from the refuge, however, often involves many unclear.

Refuge dog or foundation?

In the refuge, seeing hundreds of dogs behind the bars, it is difficult to decide which will be the best for us. If we decide to adopt a dog, it is worth watching the ads on the refuge website and contact the volunteers who take care of concrete dogs, so that they can familiarize themselves with the nature of the patrols. So you can plan an introductory walk with a concrete dog, so you can get to know it better in a more natural situation than in an overcrowding. If this form of knowledge of the dog is not satisfied, however, we can invoke foundations, which exist from happy throughout the country. He takes care of detecting homeless dogs, often removes dogs that, hiding the horror in the beating corner, become invisible to people looking for their friends. Dogs in the foundation care have the opportunity to socialize with people, to take long walks and often live in house conditions, which prepares them for adoption. The character of these dogs is much more known than those in the shelters and it is easier to choose the right companion. The principle is promoted that, adopting a dog from such a foundation, we help not only the dog adopted, but also what the foundation can receive in its place.

Puppy or mature dog?

The chicks are always the most popular of dogs without master, but personally they always recommend paying more attention to adult dogs, especially when it comes to families with children. The main topic for this choice is a stabilized character and more predictable behavior. In the case of an adult dog, we will be exempt from the difficult phase of the growth of the chicken and the amaro of everything that captures during the change of teeth. Adult dogs and even elderly dogs learn everything quickly like dogs, so you don’t have to worry. Adult dogs, in particular those by the Foundation, can often go beautifully to the leash and keep the house clean, which makes the period after adoption are much easier for the new owner. Some people, when they adopt a dog decide to choose an individual after a traumatic experience. Often these are dogs that have not had pleasant experiences with people. These are quite difficult adoptions and usually require the involvement of an expert behaviorist and a lot with the dog to regain confidence. However, I know many cases of extraordinary transformation of these dogs into wonderful companions for many years. Of course, I don’t recommend such dogs for families with children, but only for people with a lot of patience and love for animals.

Dog health for adoption – what should you pay attention to?

After adopting a dog, what is worth paying attention from the point of view of his health? First of all, you have to find out which tests, surgical or prophylactic procedures have already been performed. With the dog we should receive its medical card with all the necessary information on vaccinations, switching or past diseases. After the adoption, it is worth visiting the veterinarian so that he can familiarize with the general health of the quadrupites and plan further preventive treatments and possible blood tests. It is certainly worth taking care of external and internal parasites at the beginning, because dogs of large groups often have large quantities of unwanted «guests». When we adopt a dog from a refuge or foundation, we usually take to undertake the sterilization/castration procedure, if not already performed. This obligation is imposed due to the too large number of homeless animals and to prevent numerous diseases of the reproduction system. Usually I encourage new owners to perform blood screening tests in the near future to better understand the general health of their pet. These preventive measures allow us to take more care of our animal and help him return to normal after remaining in the refuge.

Whether we adopt a dog from the refuge or a foundation, whether it is chickens or already large and pleasant, we certainly change his life by accepting it in our lives and showing it. He will surely appreciate our commitment and cover him with many years of unconditional love.

Dorota jóskowiak