Dog re-homing centres
On a recent holiday, I was fascinated to watch dog owners enjoying quality time with their pets, and it seemed blatantly apparent that you don’t have to have a pedigree pup to benefit from the rewards that dog ownership can offer.
Some of the most well balanced and intelligent dogs can be cross breeds and the attitudes of compassionate, loving dog owners most definitely reflect in the behaviour of their canine companions.
There are tens of thousands of dogs in re-homing centres and animal shelters looking for loving owners and while animal welfare centres do a great job of matching dogs to suitable owners, there are still plenty of animals out there just waiting for the right family to come along.
If you are thinking of investing the time and effort as well as the financial resources required to offer a home to a dog, there will be a number of things that you need to think about first. Dog ownership is a long term commitment, and it can be heartbreaking for both the owner and the dog when things don’t work out.
In 2007, the Animal Welfare Act set out an owner’s obligations towards their pets, which include the provision of a proper diet, including fresh water, somewhere suitable to live, any need to be housed with or apart from other animals, allowing animals to express normal behaviour and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Most re-homing centres will ask you to fill out a questionnaire if you are looking to adopt a dog, and this will help them match an animal to your needs. You will need to be sure that you have considered the costs of food, pet insurance and vet bills as well as any equipment you might need, and, of course, treats.
It can take quite a while to settle a dog into a new home and you will need to consider your working patterns and who will care for the dog when you cannot be there. You should also think about how you will cope with the dog’s hygiene needs and any possible future medical and care needs that he or she may develop.
When it comes to selecting your new pet, try to prioritise the dog’s temperament and personality over your desire for a good looking animal. Take advice from the staff at the re-homing centre, as it’s a well known fact that dogs that bark a lot in the kennels may be completely different when they’re out of a caged environment.
The costs of re-homing a dog from a rescue centre are considerably less than investing in a pedigree pup. However, the rewards of rescuing and, in some cases, rehabilitating an animal who has had a rough start in life must be far greater than the status of sporting a designer pooch by your side.