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[N314]No Kill Dog Shelter

by Dan Irwin, Dan

O.K., you've decided to get your new puppy from a local shelter. However, before you race off to the shelter, please make a vow (and make the rest of your family vow, too, if they're coming along) that this will be a look-but-don't-touch visit. This is not the time where you fall hopelessly in love with a puppy or dog, brush aside your better judgment, and whisk him or her home with you to live happily ever after. We know that's easier said than done, but if you adopt too hurriedly from a shelter you haven't carefully checked out, you could be in for problems later.

Your purpose during this initial visit should be to assess how well-kept and well-run the facility is. Start with the obvious: Is the shelter an inviting place? Is it clean and well-lit, or is it dingy and dim? Is the staff friendly, interested and willing and able to answer your questions? Do they greet you and offer their help, or do they ignore you or seem anxious for you to leave?

Introduce yourself as a prospective adopter and ask whether you can see the kennels where the puppies and dogs are kept. (The staff may want to ask you some questions before you meet the dogs) Be prepared to have your senses assaulted: The smells, sounds and sights of the inside of an animal shelter can be a bit overwhelming initially.

Be observant. What is the appearance of the kennels? You shouldn't see more than a couple dogs sitting in cages with feces or urine on the floor. (Be understanding, of course, as dogs aren't always the cleanest animals in the world, and even the most fastidious shelter can't keep all the cages spotless all the time.) Even a clean shelter is probably going to smell like, well, dogs, but if the odor of the shelter is enough to make your stomach turn, that may be an indication that the cages haven't been recently, or adequately, disinfected.

Look to see if the dogs have sufficient room to stretch their legs? At a minimum, they should have room to stand up and walk around a bit. There should be no more than one dog to a single pen, except in the cases of puppies or litter-mates, and sick animals shouldn't be housed with healthy ones. Continue your inspection by seeing if the dogs have clean bedding to lie on, fresh water to drink and toys to play with. Is there an outdoor area where the dogs can run around?

Most importantly, do the dogs look healthy and contented? Do they appear to be well-fed and groomed? Are they energetic and eager to interact with you as you pass their cages, or do they lay listlessly, with dull fur, glazed runny eyes, sores on their skin or deep coughs? Of course, every shelter is likely to have one or two depressed or unfriendly residents; however, if you see one miserable dog after another, this shelter may not the best place for you to find your next canine friend.

When visiting a dog shelter, be sure to observe how the shelter staff members interact with the animals. You should be able to tell whether they truly know and love the dogs or whether they're just feeding and walking them because it's their job. They should be able to talk to you intelligently about the characteristics of the various dogs; however, they should never be in a rush for you to adopt a dog. You want them to be as careful about this adoption as you're going to be. Indeed, if they seem to want you to pick a dog, any dog, and take him or her home with you right away, then they aren't looking out for their dogs? welfare, or for yours for that matter. Shelters that are too hasty in their matchmaking aren't responsible shelters.

It's important to remember that a well-kept, well-run shelter doesn't have to be a large, flashy facility. There are many small, financially challenged and perhaps physically unspectacular adoption shelters - some that are completely operated by volunteers - which are wonderful places to adopt. In fact, small shelters with volunteer staffs (you might call them "labor of love" shelters) often know their animals more closely than large shelters do, and they will usually take the time to give every dog and potential adopter lots of attention. The bottom line is this: What matters isn't whether a shelter has fancy displays and silver dog dishes, but whether it has clean facilities, a committed and informed staff, and reasonable adoption policies and procedures.

When you visit a shelter, you probably won't be the only one taking notes and making evaluations; the shelter's staff will be checking you out, too. There is no reason to be nervous. This doesn't have to be like meeting your in-laws for the first time. Nevertheless, be aware that adoption is a two-way street, and the staff members of a responsible shelter will most likely have as many questions for you as you have for them. Be impressed rather than anxious by their interest, even if their queries occasionally seem snooping or irrelevant. There's no reason to be defensive or apologetic, and answer honestly; after all, you're a trustworthy adopter with nothing to hide, right? The shelter employees aren't trying to trick you or trip you up. Remember, the more they know about you and your lifestyle, the better prepared they'll be to help you pick the right dog when the time comes.

Lastly, some shelters will ask you (either during your preliminary visit or when you return looking for a dog) to fill out a written "pre-adoption" form before they'll even show you their dogs. These forms aren't binding; they are just informational and are used to help the staff get to know you and your needs. Other shelters may have "counseling rooms" where staff members will sit and talk with you before taking you to see their animals. However, most shelters will simply interview you informally as you visit their facility.

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Dan Irwin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets. Dan Irwin has been ?in love? with the breed for nearly twenty years now. For a limited time, receive a free copy of "101 Ways to Spo. Dan Irwin's top article generates over 1300 views. to your Favourites.