Pet Talk: Why adopt from a shelter?

DEAR PET TALK: Why should people adopt a dog from a shelter, vs. from a breeder?

— DOG LOVER

DEAR DOG LOVER: Frankly, with some exceptions (Danes and very large dogs, plus “tea cup” varieties), you can find pretty much any dog you wish to find in a shelter, if you allow time for the search.

Since October is national Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month, let’s shine a light on the shelters that do incredible work rescuing dogs and matching them with the best owners.

Why adopt from a shelter? The overpopulation of dogs (and cats, rabbits, pocket pets) in shelters nationwide is an enormous problem. If you can find the dog you want at a shelter, that helps. Some shelters have practices of euthanasia once an animal has been in a cage for a certain amount of time. And in some states, that includes healthy animals, which is a hideous practice. Fortunately, in Massachusetts and New England, for the most part, that is not policy. States such as New York, or southern states?

Yes, tragically, that often is, due to overpopulation. How can you help? Get your pet spayed and neutered — vow that you will never be responsible for any dogs or cats being born “by accident.” But what happens when a dog is rescued? A second chance, to be honest.

When a dog goes to a shelter, they receive a medical evaluation and assessment, as well as appropriate shots (rabies, DHPP/DAPP, leptospirosis, bordatella and parainfluenza). Shelters are fragile places, and a dog who arrives without proof of vaccines immediately receives shots to prevent outbreaks.

A shelter is not a home, however, and many shelters work with “foster families.” These are folks willing to take a dog who may not adjust to shelter life, and provide a loving and
consistent environment while the dog transitions from either being surrendered or rescued from the street.

The law in Massachusetts for strays is that municipal facilities enforce a mandatory stray holding period (usually seven days), before the dog is either transferred to a shelter or
processed for adoption.

Shelters are essential, the ASPCA estimates than in 2025, 2.8 million dogs and 3 million cats went into shelters. Unfortunately, more than a half million did not find homes and were
euthanized. Here in Massachusetts, unless a shelter animal is very unwell, euthanization is not the usual course of action, unlike in other states. Thus, you may be reading more about
inter-state transfers and rescues from shelters where euthanization is part of their program.

Animal Rescue League of Boston reports stays of 14 days to 20 days on average, although larger dogs may stay in a shelter longer, anywhere from several days to more than a week.
As you might expect, younger and smaller dogs find homes sooner than larger dogs. Shelter volunteers I speak to say that dogs who need more training, or who came in as older, or
overweight dogs need more attention from the public, in order to find their fur-ever home.

Sally Cragin is the founder of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send questions to [email protected].