9 Sensible Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Puppy (+Process, FAQs)

You have space in your life for a puppy – but do you go to a breeder or adopt a shelter puppy?

The addition of an adopted puppy in your home and life can be a richly fulfilling experience.

Why Adopt a Puppy?

Your local rehoming center will have a mixture of puppies and adult dogs, and you can opt for a puppy.

Typically, your rehoming center will keep exceptionally young puppies and ill puppies behind closed doors until they are fit to move into a forever home.

If you are willing to share your life with a puppy, then a rescue puppy is an excellent choice:

#1 You Can Be Part of the Solution and Not the Problem

You don’t need in-depth research to see the harm some people create through puppy farming and catering to the idea of dogs as fashion accessories rather than caring and loving companions.

Globally there are millions of dogs in rescue centers, and a high proportion of these are puppies.

By opting for a shelter puppy instead of one from a breeder, you help to provide a safety net for neglected puppies and, in many cases, literally save that puppy’s life.

#2 Affordability

Rescue center fees for a health-checked, vaccinated, and micro-chipped puppy are a fraction of the cost of buying a dog from a breeder.

Unless you need a pedigree dog with a kennel club registration in your life, you will find a loyal, loving, and attractive puppy in need of a home like yours in any rescue center.

Many pedigree puppies arrive in rescue centers, so if you have a breed preference, you can probably find it in one of the many shelters.

#3 More Choice

An individual breeder offers you a selection from a given litter, and a rescue center lets you see a range of different breeds and puppy types in one day.

Plus, the puppies are slightly older, and you can get a natural feel for character and personality.

#4 Healthier Puppies

It may seem strange, but a shelter puppy is likely healthier than a pedigree puppy from a breeder.

Mixed breed puppies tend to avoid inbred pedigrees’ congenital problems, and shelter puppies get a complete health assessment.

When you adopt a puppy from a shelter, you get a clear picture of existing issues with the puppy’s health.

But in practice, puppies that survive the circumstances that led to them being in a shelter are resilient.

#5 More Support

The best rescue centers offer an ongoing support package – puppy classes and regular meet-ups with other adopters.

Some run annual fund-raising events where your puppy can trot around the show ring or the agility course and win a prize.

The staff at rehoming centers are always willing to offer help and advice in settling your shelter puppy into your home.

#6 Better for Your Children

Adopting a puppy for your family from a rescue center helps your children understand compassion and empathy.

The puppy you choose to share your life with is not a commodity but someone in need of a loving home.

That is a powerful message for your children – they can choose to make the world a better place through simple kindness.

#7 Community Building

All puppies get you outside, meeting your neighbors and other dog walkers.

Rescue puppies come with a fantastic conversation opener.

When someone asks you about your puppy, you explain it is a shelter puppy.

Many of your fellow puppy owners will also have rescue puppies, and you can share your experiences.

#8 Supporting the Shelter

There is a constant stream of animals heading towards your local shelter.

Adopting a puppy means you help with financial support and free up space for the next needy puppy to receive the care and attention it needs before it finds its new family.

Plus, when you walk your puppy and talk about your experiences, you promote the shelter’s good work and help steer people away from the puppy mills and towards adopting a shelter puppy.

#9 Improve Your Health

Your puppy will encourage you to get out and meet people, breathe fresh air and take more exercise.

Plus, numerous studies demonstrate the stress-relieving impact of puppy ownership.

You get extra feel-good points by living your values and ethically sourcing your puppy as a bonus.

How to Choose an Animal Shelter?

Although all animal shelters have excellent motives, not every animal shelter is well run.

How do you find an excellent rehoming shelter for you to choose your puppy?

You can find shelters by:

Asking a vet – many vets work with rehoming centers and will have recommendations for the best places.
Searching for branches of national charities – most countries have several large dog charities with local branches.
Searching for local animal shelters – many people devote their lives to providing help and support to animals in need of a second chance as a small privately run operation.
Seeking out a breed-specific rehoming organization – some shelters focus on a specific dog breed.
Asking friends and family for a recommendation.

Before looking at individual puppies, you can research your shelters by:

Looking at social media coverage to get a feel for the center’s management and ethos.
Visiting to get a feel for the place.
Asking plenty of questions.

An excellent shelter is clean, and the staff are knowledgeable and will answer your questions and ask plenty of questions about you and your reasons for adopting a puppy.

You may need to visit several shelters until you find your ideal match.

The best shelters will have some or all these features:

Have a vetting process – this can involve a home visit or a simple questionnaire or interview.
Checklist of puppy health – vaccinated, wormed, neutered, microchipped, and vet assessment.
Opportunity to spend time with the puppy before deciding to adopt.
Follow-up phone call or visit.

It is best to visit a couple of shelters and see how they treat their puppies; look for:

Clean, fresh appearance.
Fresh smell.
Friendly staff.
Open to visitors.

You can get an excellent puppy from a poorly-run shelter, but you may need to invest more in vets bills for health and classes for behavior.

A puppy from a well-run shelter is more likely to fit happily into your home.

The Process: How to Adopt a Rescue Puppy?

The process for adopting a shelter puppy varies between rescue centers, but you can expect:

A vetting process and collecting your details (address and contact numbers).
Potentially a home visit before and possibly after adoption.
Opportunity to view and interact with potential adoptees.
An adoption fee – shows commitment and covers some of the costs of the shelter puppy’s stay in the center.

Some shelters may offer the option to foster your chosen puppy for a week or two before fully committing to adoption.

Most shelters will have a return-to-shelter policy as a safety net if you find that the puppy has too many issues settling with you and your family.

Call your chosen shelter so you can look around and find out what their procedures involve.

How Much Will Adopting a Puppy Cost?

The upfront cost of adopting a puppy will cover:

Shelter fee.
Necessary worming and vet assessment.
Equipment costs.
Food.

The shelter charges a fee to cover some of its costs and ensures that the puppy adopter is willing to invest in the puppy.

There is a considerable variation in fees from $50 to over $350. Puppies tend to cost more than adult dogs because they need more veterinary attention while in the shelter.

Many shelters discount their fees during peak demand when they need more adopters.

The shelter fee usually covers:

Puppy health assessment – so your puppy is fit for adoption.
Vaccination and paperwork.
Test for heartworms and treatment.
Neutering.
Initial worming.
Microchipping.

It is worth checking what the shelter fee covers, as the full range will vary depending on its funding.

Some shelters throw in a bonus item like a month’s pet insurance.

Although the shelter worms their puppies, most new puppy parents will opt for a vet assessment, and most vets will recommend a worming regime to include treatment for ticks and other parasites.

Your initial equipment and supplies cot will include:

Leash, collar, and identity tag.
Dog bed and blankets.
Dog crate – helpful for the first few months.
Food and water bowls.
Poop bags.
Training mats – or a supply of wastepaper.
A few toys.
A clean-up kit for accidents.
Food and treats.

It is best to ask the shelter for a food recommendation so you can avoid upsetting your puppy’s stomach when you bring it home.

You can gradually move your puppy onto your preferred foods according to age.

Having everything you need for your puppy before you bring it home will make life less stressful for both of you.

What to Look for in a Shelter Puppy?

Have a checklist of what you want in your puppy before looking at all the cute puppies in desperate need of a new home.

If you select a puppy because its pretty face melted your heart, you may end up with a puppy that grows into the size of a small pony when you live in a small apartment.

The shelter will be happy to discuss your requirements because they want an ideal match for their puppies.

Consider:

Adult size – depending on the breed mix, your puppy may be a small, medium, large, or giant adult dog.
Exercise needs – some breeds need more physical exercise than others, and it helps if you match your puppy to the level of walking and activity you enjoy.
Temperament – some breeds are better with children and other pets, but individual puppies in any breed vary in personality.
Allergies – some puppies will grow into adults that shed hair, and others (poodle types) don’t shed as much over the year.
Grooming – some puppies are more high maintenance than others.

If you have a clear idea of the type of puppy that suits you and your family, the shelter can assist by selecting the best potential matches.

If you choose your puppy as a family group, then your children may fall in love with the wrong type of puppy for you if they see all the puppies available.

When you interact with a potential puppy, look for a puppy that seems interested in you and your family.

If you are adopting a puppy for yourself, you may be happy to take on the challenge of coaxing a shy and frightened puppy into a brave new life.

A shelter puppy has history, and only you know how much patience and energy you have for a puppy that may need more help to settle.

What is the Best Age?

Different breeds of puppies mature at different ages. A puppy from a giant breed is mature at fifteen months, whereas a smaller toy breed is mature around nine months.

If you buy a puppy from a breeder, you typically take your puppy home between eight and twelve weeks.

If you adopt a puppy from a shelter, the puppy may be:

Part of a litter born to a rescue mom in the shelter.
Part of a litter rescued by the refuge without the mom.
Single puppy.

The younger the puppy, the less life experience, but adopting an older puppy up to a year old has advantages:

Puppy may be house trained and will take less time to understand where to go to the bathroom.
Puppy can stay by itself for a more extended period while you are at work.
You can assess the puppy’s personality.
The puppy is closer to its adult form, so you get fewer surprises in growth.
You miss out on the painful teething and chewing stage.

Is It Best to Have a Puppy from a Litter or a Singleton?

Unless you want a younger puppy, you will probably see singleton puppies in the shelter.

A singleton puppy is perhaps older, but if it is the last survivor from a litter that didn’t do too well in the shelter, you can be sure that it is a robust puppy with a strong will to survive.

Whether the puppy is a singleton or part of a rescue litter is not as important as the puppy’s health.

All shelter puppies get a health assessment, so you know that you adopt a healthy puppy.

If you adopt a younger puppy, you will probably see it as part of a litter.

An older puppy is more likely to be a single puppy that comes from a family placement that didn’t work out – many puppies end up in shelters because their first owners’ circumstances change – new babies, divorce, or changes in employment.

What is the Legal Position If the Puppy Is Sick?

When you adopt a puppy from a shelter, you will sign an adoption agreement, and the adoption agreement covers your rights and the shelter’s obligations.

Individual states have “lemon laws” that cover the potential for discovering ill health after you buy or adopt a puppy, but these cap the amount or reimbursement for vet’s bills.

It is not illegal for a shelter to give you a sick puppy, although most shelters make every effort to complete a full health check before putting a puppy up for adoption.

Your adoption contract will specify:

Vaccinations and medical treatment as given to your puppy.
Results of any screening tests for congenital illnesses.

Your adoption contract may give the option to return your puppy to the shelter if you subsequently find it ill and the illness was pre-existing.

Unfortunately, there is a strong possibility that the center will euthanize the puppy if it has an expensive congenital disability.

Shelters rarely give you a sick puppy because they have strict health assessments and vaccinations regime. But occasionally, signs of illness are not apparent until later.

Your puppy will come with a certificate of veterinary inspection and an entire medical history of its time in the shelter.

If you find your puppy sick soon after adoption, contact your shelter.

The shelter may offer to take the puppy back or provide free treatment, but it will depend on why your puppy is sick.

What About Vaccination?

The core vaccinations (distemper, leptospirosis, hepatitis, parvo, and parainfluenzas) are recommended for puppies and administered in a series of up to sixteen weeks.

Your shelter puppy will have these vaccinations, but they are not a legal requirement.

If you adopt a shelter puppy at eight weeks, your puppy may be partially vaccinated, and you pick up the responsibility from that point.

It is a legal requirement (in the US) to have your puppy vaccinated against rabies from twelve weeks.

The shelter will vaccinate any puppy over 12 weeks against rabies before being adopted.

What About Microchipping?

Microchipping isn’t compulsory in the entire US (mandatory in the UK and some other countries), but it is highly recommended, and most shelters automatically microchip their puppies before adoption.

However, you need to read your adoption agreement to check your puppy’s status and what you need to do to register yourself as your puppy’s owner in case you lose your puppy.

What Are Your Rights as a Puppy Adopter?

What you can expect and your legal rights depend on your state laws.

State laws cover:

Need for neutering – most states make it a requirement for shelter puppies.
Permitted dog breeds – many states ban pit bulls in cities.
Length of time the shelter must hold the puppy for reclaiming before adoption.
Limit on the number of dogs owned.
Treatment and care.
Some states require a dog license.
Need for rabies vaccination.

You can only buy a rescue puppy (from 2017) from a pet store in California and Illinois. Hawaii is one of the few states that insist on microchipping and a dog license for puppy ownership.

As a puppy adopter, you can expect to have any other puppy owner’s legal rights and responsibilities.

Finally: Do You Choose the Puppy, or Does the Puppy Choose You?

If you adopt a puppy for the first time, you may wonder if the shelter will insist that the puppy chooses you rather than you choose the puppy.

It is a mixture of both your choice and the puppy in practice.

You will feel drawn towards a puppy that wants to go home with you, more than one that runs and hides.

You may have a shopping list of desirable features, but you will likely throw that list away when a shelter pup has that indefinable something that makes you want to scoop it up and take it home.

So, the puppy tries hard to choose you in many ways, but you still need to choose it back.

Adopting a puppy from a shelter is a wonderful thing; you bring a puppy into your life in need of a loving home, and the puppy will be your loyal companion for years.

With so many puppies needing a fresh start, it makes sense to choose a shelter puppy as your fur baby.