Make a New Friend During October’s Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month

Have you been thinking about adopting a new dog for some time now?  Well this month is your perfect chance to quit speculating and take action!

There are endless benefits for both you and your dog.  Here are just a few to think about when you adopt…

1.      Save a Life

The most obvious, and yet most important thing is that you are saving a life.  A shelter dog is well aware of the commitment you have made to them, and will be forever grateful.  The loyal bond that can be formed between an abandoned dog and their owner is unlike anything else in the world.  Help save one of the millions of dogs looking for a home, and you will both be rewarded for it.

2.      Help a Shelter

Not only will you be saving the life of your new dog, but you are also doing a huge service to the shelter.  By rescuing a dog, you will be freeing up a spot for the shelter to place a new abandoned dog looking for a home.  If they could, shelters would take in every stray dog from the street, but overpopulation is one of the biggest problems they face.  With only very limited resources, shelters depend on people to free up space in order to make room for another unfortunate dog.

3.   Enhance Your Life

Owning a dog can be a life-long rewarding experience.  Above everything else, a dog is going to put a smile on your face.  The happiness that is gained from the love of a dog is something truly unique that cannot be duplicated.  It has been proven that dogs help people feel better when they need an uplift.  They teach children responsibility and give people the ability to love and care for another living thing.  For everyone involved, a certain sense of purpose is gained through the addition of a shelter dog.

Still a little frightened about bringing your new friend home?  These tips are sure to help you out during the first month to make the transition smoother.

***Source: Tips for the First 30 Days of Dog Adoption from Petfinder.com.  http://www.petfinder.com/after-pet-adoption/tips-for-first-30-days-dog.html

We are pleased to have Vin, as a contributing writer for If They Could Talk. Vin is a passionate dog owner. We look forward to sharing his contribution on interesting and educational pet topics.