Purchasing a dog or puppy: What to look for in a rescue or shelter
Congratulations on choosing to add a new dog or puppy to your family.
It is great that you are considering adopting a pet from a rescue or shelter. However, not all rescues/shelters are created equal – indeed, some facilities are merely posing as rescues and are more like an animal-broker than an animal-rescue.
It’s not a ‘black and white’ matter, but here are some suggestions that will hopefully help you when you’re looking at adopting a pet.
Necessities
Do not purchase a dog from a shelter unless the facility:
- Shows concern and regard to the physical health of their dogs and puppies
- Shows concern and regard to the psychological well being of their dogs and puppies – either in providing enrichment on site, by frequently taking their dogs ‘out and about’, by using Dunbar’s methods of raising puppies (with toilet area, kongs, socialisation), and by providing training to dogs with behavioural problems
- Is willing to provide life-long support to you as a purchaser, and is willing to take their dog or puppy back if things don’t work out. (There should be a trial period of anywhere from 1-12 weeks where a refund is provided.)
- You feel comfortable approaching the rescue or shelter for advice, and feel they would be supportive and give you clear advise you can understand.
- Sells all dogs and puppies microchipped, vaccinated and sterilised (or on contracts to have these procedures performed at a latter date, or with a medical certificate exempting them from these procedures)
- Gives you some time to ‘think about’ adding the dog/puppy to your household
Niceities
It’s ‘nice’ if a shelter/rescue does these following things, but not a deal breaker.
- The rescue/shelter asks you lots of questions about your household and what you’re looking for
- There is a sales contract
- The rescue/shelter seems to have a great deal of knowledge about dogs
- The rescue/shelter uses foster carers so they know what the dog is like in a house (instead of just living in a kennel)
- The rescue/shelter has had the dog in care for at least 10 days, to serve as a quarantine period
- Friends, family, or other shelters and rescues have heard of this rescue and have positive things to say
- Identifies as ‘no kill’ or ‘out the front door’ or as ‘saving 90%’
Red Flags
Have some concern about the shelter or rescue if any of these events take place.
- The rescue/shelter seems overly concerned about the purchase price
- The rescue/shelter puts the hard sell on – “I might sell her next week if you don’t take her today”, or “I’ll give you 10% off if you buy her now.”
- The rescue/shelter sells puppies together to the same pet family
- The rescue/shetler is willing to sell a puppy/dog to you without you even meeting the dog/puppy to assess it for yourself
Do Not Buys
If the shelter or rescue does any of the following things, then walk away and source a dog from an alternative source.
- You cannot meet the dog or puppy before sale
- Dogs/puppies are not microchipped – in most states of Australia, this is a legal requirement
- The dogs or puppies seem unhealthy or in poor condition (dirty, matted, skinny, fat)
- There seems to be no plan to improve the socialability/behaviour of dogs that have problematic temperaments
- The rescue/shelter is not willing to show you all the dogs in their care
Is there anything you would add to the list?
Further reading: See How to Find a Good Dog Breeder
Could you do a post sometime about why you don’t recommend two littermates to be adopted by the same family? I’m asking because I don’t know why that is bad. I don’t know many littermates that live together as adults, but the ones I do know seem pretty normal. I can think of one example where the male sibling is protective of the female sibling, but only slightly. I’m curious about that topic.
Hi Lindsay,
I would, but Fetching Dogs has already said all I would!
Here’s the link:
http://www.fetching-dogs.com/2012/07/why-we-dont-rehome-siblings-together.html
(Unfortunately, that link tries to redirect you back to their main page for some reason – I just press ‘stop’ as it’s loading, so it doesn’t redirect.)
One thing that is a red flag / do not buy is when a rescue tells me that they don’t have any dogs at the time (really), but they’re also a breeder and have a litter coming up.
We have 2 sets of littermates and I think it takes a special family to manage littermates. Both of our sets were in training the moment they were old enough. We also brought our second set of puppies home at 6 weeks instead of the traditional 8 weeks. This was due to timing. But I would say that anyone who is allowing puppies to leave early raises a red flag too. I believe we’re a special case because we did our homework and made sure we could provide all of our dogs what we need. I can only hope that other potential dog owners do the same.
I think you should add in the heading “In my opinion”.
Having adopted out hundreds of puppies successfully, to read that YOU think a “red flag” situation is adopting out two ( or more) pups to the one household is extremely offensive; not only to the people who happily take, train and love two pups, but the rescues who speak at length to such people to ensure the decision is not an emotional one, ( not wanting one puppy to feel lonely) but a practical and well thought out one.
Also, adopting puppies out and the new owners NOT meeting them prior is a very common occurrence; when a rescue is open and honest, assesses the pups and does their best to place the pups in the correct homes, it is not a “red flag” situation if a meet does not occur. Quite often, the people adopting are more than happy to trust the advice given, but I guess that’s where building up a good reputation and having that trust is the key.
Just because a rescue doesn’t implement the Dunbar method of rearing puppies does not make them inferior. To advise to NOT adopt from a rescue who does not utilise these methods is also offensive.
Your opinions are just that, and I think you should make it very clear that this blog, is just that.
Hi Heather,
Thank-you for taking the time to comment.
You will see that the title of the blog is called “Some Thoughts About Dogs” – which indicates that this blog is chiefly my musings on the topic of dogs.
Until I see two puppies in a pet home together that have a healthy relationship to one another and to their owners, I will continue to never advocate puppies growing up in the same family. Working in rescue, I have had adult sibling dogs surrendered highly bonded – and it’s hard work to train ONE puppy into a well adjusted and happy dog, let alone TWO. Of course, some people can do it – but I don’t trust my adopters or puppy buyers to. And I they’d have to show up with a pretty impressive report card before I would even consider it.
‘Red flag’ means to ‘have some concern’. If there was a rescue ticking many of the ‘red flag’ boxes that would be a big concern. If they were only ticking one (or maybe even two but everything else looked good) then they could pass. It’s a balancing act, and you’re unlikely to find a rescue that meets all the targets. If they meet most of them, they’re worth consideration. If they meet few, it’s worth passing on.
There is no reason for anyone raising puppies to not commit to Dunbar’s recommendations – they are easy and make good sense.
Tegan, I am not stalking you. This is the very first time I have ever commented in your public arena. I enjoyed reading your “thoughts” now and then when I saw the links. and this time, I disagreed. “Stalking” is taking it a little too far.
Oh and me learn more about dogs? I think if we are very lucky, we learn something new every day.
I hope you do too!
I’m glad that slagging off on your private page where I could not see your comment made you feel better.
Nice.
Hi Heather.
It’s nice to hear that you enjoy reading my ‘thoughts’ on here.
I would appreciate it if you could keep your personal disagreements with me in a private arena instead of on a public arena like my blog.
Please delete all of my comments.
I have no “personal disagreements” with you; you are the one who has privately had a nice little go at me.
I may disagree with your views, but I have not made it personal. You have done that.
So I request and expect that you remove my posts and my name from this blog immediately.
Thankyou.