Adoption

Thinking of a dog as a new addition to your family?
It is important to know if this addition will fit in with your family and lifestyle. Following are a few helpful questions to guide you in finding "just the right personality" for your home!

1) Is your family active, or low key and quiet?

2) Do you have children living at home?

3) Is your income enough to cover the following needs for the breed of dog desired? (Yearly cost is determined by type, size and age of dog. Poodles, Pomeranians, and English Sheepdogs, for example, have large yearly grooming expenses, while short haired dog grooming expenses are low. Large dogs eat more than small ones.)
a. Medical, including yearly shots.
b. Food
c. Grooming
d. Boarding
e. Beds and toys
f. Training

4) Does your family have time to devote to your new household member concerning:
a. Training?
A well trained dog is a pleasure to have around and to involve in family activities, such as family gatherings, camping and travel. S/he can be a real part of the family!
b. Emotional contact and affection?
Emotional contact is as important for a dog as it is for a human--daily, long periods of emotional contact can help prevent misbehavior (seeking attention in any manner s/he can get it -- sometimes negative.)
c. Grooming?
Grooming is important for all breeds of dogs, just as it is for humans. Some need more time for their grooming needs, some less. All need to have their nails clipped on a regular basis (monthly) to prevent injury to the dog and human. Brushing is necessary for the health of a dog's skin and fur, and to keep the dog clean, no matter what breed.

d. Daily play, walks and exercise?
Daily walks and exercise are good for BOTH you and the dog! Tug, fetch, Frisbee™ and other games are very popular with dogs, and are good exercise!
e. Socialization?
Interaction with other dogs is very important. Just as we have our best friends, dogs do too, and look forward to visits and playtime with other dogs. Dogs also love interaction with other people, and also have their favorites visiting humans too!
f. Intellectual Stimulation?
Like us, dogs thrive on intellectual stimulation. They love to please, they love to learn. They have a curiosity about things around them. Training a dog can be fun, and the dog loves it --he is learning AND he is spending time with his favorite person! Tricks are also fun for them to learn. No, he is not going to read the newspaper, but dogs are a lot smarter than most think, or give them credit for!

Lacey was adopted from the shelter. She is a purebred Sheltie sweetheart, who was very lucky--she only had two days left at the shelter! She sometimes shows her mom and dad, Ingrid and Gary, that she was abused before they found her, but she is learning about love and kindness now. She is a smart, lady-like playmate to their other dog, Bailey.
photo by Liz Breault

Ready to look for the breed that'll suit your family's needs?
Once you have answered these questions and are ready to adopt that new family member, lets take the next step!

ALWAYS CHECK WITH
YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER FIRST!

Local Animal shelters are full! The Lancaster Shelter in NOT a "no-kill" shelter (though we are sure they would like to be, but funds do not permit it at this time). There are many purebred dogs in the shelter, along with mixed breeds, that all need homes. You could save a life!

However, if you do not find the dog there that suits your family, please check with the list of Rescue groups that are provided on this site.

Contrary to belief, most dogs in shelters and rescues have not been turned in because there was "something wrong" with them. Often it was because the previous owners had to move, there was a death in the family, no time for the dog, or the dog was not spayed or neutered which resulted in puppies which were turned into the shelter. Many times the dog is in the shelter or rescue through no fault of its own. Make sure before you adopt that you can and will give the new canine member of your family a FOREVER HOME and ALWAYS SPAY and NEUTER!

This lovable mixed breed girl, named Medi, was adopted at the
Tehachapi Humane Society by a nice family near Oak Hills.

photo by Gail Gunnels

Local rescue and shelter list that covers the cities of: Palmdale, Lancaster, Acton, Agua Dulce, Rosamond, California City, Littlerock, Mojave, Stevenson’s Ranch, Valencia, Newhall, Canyon Country, and Tehachapi.

Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals
that need homes. It is also a directory of over 7,000 animal shelters
and adoption organizations across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

I was Adopted! Aren’t I cute?

photo by Linda Ciampa

Raven is a rescued former racing greyhound. Now she takes it easy at her forever home.

Photo by Patricia Dahle

Links that will help in finding the right dog for your family:

On Being a Responsible Dog Owner, http://www.akc.org/public_education/responsible_dog_owner.cfm

Before you Rescue a Dog, http://www.akc.org/future_dog_owner/about_buying_a_dog.cfm

Choosing your breed
Different breeds of dogs have different personality traits and health problems (even mixed breeds). These sites will help you determine the breed that will suit your family and lifestyle the best, and give you an idea of what type of health problems may exist in that breed. Preventive health care and high quality feeding may prevent problems from ever showing up. When choosing a mixed breed for your family, try to determine the predominate breed in the mix. The dog's personality and health will be similar to that of the predominate breed.

The following sites will assist you in learning about
breed personalities:

http://www.canadogs.com/Choosing_a_Breed.htm

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/557.asp

http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/faq_looking.cfm

http://www.dogpack.com/breeds/dogBreedsA.htm (excellent site with loads of information)

Canine health issues by breed:

http://www.dogpack.com/health/healthproblems.htm

http://www.uexplore.com/health/healthproblems.htm

http://www.dog-play.com/health.html