| When considering the birth rates among animals, it | | | | surroundings filled with fears based upon earlier |
| is not hard to understand why animal shelters are | | | | mistreatment or the harsh rules of their previous |
| always filled with animals waiting to be adopted. | | | | owners. Some dogs will be reluctant to go from |
| Shockingly, it has been calculated that over a | | | | one room to another, will shy away when |
| seven year period, one female cat and her | | | | corrected and hide upon hearing a loud noise. New |
| offspring will produce approximately 420,000 | | | | owners must be patient with them and speak to |
| kittens. Likewise, one female dog and her | | | | them softly and affectionately. Dogs are not |
| offspring will produce 67,000 puppies during a six | | | | stupid and they will gradually come to understand |
| year period. Since there are more animals looking | | | | their new environment and show their |
| for homes than there are people who want to | | | | appreciation for your loving care. |
| adopt them, some 6.5 million animals are | | | | When contemplating adoption, prospective new |
| euthanized each year. | | | | owners should be prepared to deal with the fact |
| Given the statistics cited above, adopting an | | | | that their new adoptee may not be completely |
| animal can be a kind and loving thing to do. | | | | housebroken. Previous owners may have been |
| However, before making the final decision to | | | | irresponsible in their approach to this training; |
| adopt, there are a number of things to consider. | | | | furthermore, when the dog was placed in the |
| Many of the animals awaiting adoption in shelters | | | | shelter it continued to do its 'business' right in its |
| have had very rough beginnings. Some were | | | | pen. Housebreaking is not a complex chore and |
| abused, some abandoned and some were 'turned | | | | should not deter someone from adopting a pet. |
| in' because the owners did not have time for | | | | Some owners will use a cage to assist in this |
| them. Many were left alone for long periods and | | | | training, while others will just take the dog out for |
| some were never properly potty trained. In short, | | | | a walk several times a day. Fenced yards and |
| when adopting an animal you must be prepared | | | | doggie doors are minimal expenses that pay |
| to work with them. They may come to you | | | | extra dividends on cold or rainy days. |
| cowed or with feelings of trepidation and may be | | | | Adopted dogs are subject to all of the behavioral |
| overly sensitive to your tone of voice or to any | | | | problems commonly associated to dogs in general. |
| commands you might give them. You will need to | | | | These would include digging, jumping up on people, |
| be patient and by all means, loving. When they | | | | jumping fences, barking and nipping. There are |
| finally realize that they can trust you they will | | | | proven solutions to all of these 'offenses.' If your |
| reward you with more affection and loyalty than | | | | dog is prone to digging, and always digs in one |
| you can imagine. | | | | area, there are a number of effective repellent |
| Adopting a dog as a means of entertaining a small | | | | sprays that work well. If he digs under your |
| child is not recommended. A dog is not a toy and | | | | fence, a little buried chicken wire works wonders |
| should not be treated as one. Small children should | | | | in breaking that habit. Spray bottles filled with |
| be trained to understand 'animal etiquette'. In | | | | water should be kept at hand to break a dog |
| other words, animals are not to be hit, dragged, | | | | from jumping up and to combat incessant barking. |
| ridden or teased. They should understand that | | | | A quick spritz in the face immediately following, or |
| being overly aggressive with a new dog, especially | | | | during, the offensive behavior will usually bring |
| one recently adopted, could cause the dog to | | | | about a quick behavior modification. |
| react by biting or running away. If feeding and | | | | Visiting an animal shelter can be an emotional |
| exercising the dog is to be the responsibility of a | | | | experience for an animal lover. It is difficult to see |
| child, an adult should follow up to be sure these | | | | all the animals in their pens and not want to take |
| things are getting done. It is not the fault of the | | | | them all home. Such feelings are understandable |
| dog if a child fails to meet his or her obligations | | | | and commendable; however, just be sure that |
| and the dog should not have to suffer for the | | | | prior to adoption you consider all of the |
| child's failure. | | | | ramifications. And remember, your best friend is |
| Many adopted dogs will come to the new | | | | waiting for you at your local animal shelter. |