To the Dogs: Change The World For A Dog — Adopt
By Kari Vanick
'Tis the season with Valentine’s Day right around the corner to lend our hearts to those in need.
Are you toying with the idea of adopting a pet? With love in the air, Valentine’s Day is a great time to welcome a new member to your home, and adoption is a great way to do it. Caution: Puppy love can cause you to do things you normally wouldn’t! Make sure you’re ready for a new furry friend.
When considering a new pet, adoption is such a wonderful option. The number of pets without homes is astronomical and continues to rise, which also means the rate of euthanasia is on the rise. So many pets are being abandoned in foreclosed homes. People are leaving thinking they have no way to take their pet with them. It is such a sad situation.
Give a little love this Valentine’s Day and offer your home to a dog in need. Not quite sure you’re ready to commit? Be a foster home! This is a great way to get to know a dog and really help out, especially if you’re not sure you can handle a dog full time right now. Fostering a dog can last as little as a week or as long as a few months until the dog finds a forever home. You could be the one who saves him until his loving parents finally find him.
How Do I Get Started?
There are several local shelters with so many dogs to choose from! A couple places to check out are Helping Paws Animal Welfare Association in Woodstock (www.helpingpaws.net) or Save-A-Pet Adoption Center in Grayslake (www.save-a-pet-il.org). You can browse their selection of pets on their Web sites or stop in and visit to see whether you find one you click with.
What if I find one I like?
The procedure for adopting an animal is similar at most shelters. Initially you will have to fill out some paperwork so they can get to know you and also so they can make suggestions based on their knowledge of the personalities and breeds of the dogs. Also, each shelter usually has a list of adoption policies to qualify you to ensure the animals are adopted into loving, responsible homes.
You and your entire family (living in the home), along with your current dog(s), will be asked to meet the new dog you are interested in adopting to allow you to get to know each other to make sure it is a good fit for both of you. This might also include a home visit to verify a safe environment for the pet in your home and that all the adoption requirements are being met.
What if I’m not sure I’m ready?
You can look as long as you like. Most of the time you will just know. You will see a dog who steals your heart in love at first sight. You will be drawn to him and just know you were the one who was meant to provide a loving home for him. Many times, they pick you. You might not ever know you were ready, and there he is, just waiting for you.
Check into being a foster home
If you know you’re not able to provide a full-time forever home for a dog, but would like to help (and reap the rewards of that unconditional love they offer endlessly), check into being a foster home. Many dogs just need to be rescued from euthanasia while they are waiting to find their new digs. Save a dog destined for that fate! Sometimes you can specify how long you are able to provide a home, and then they will place the dog in a new foster home if necessary. If you are having a tough time with a particular foster dog, you can admit that it’s not a good match and request they find a better-suited foster home for the dog so you can find a match that’s right for you. Any help you can offer is amazing and could save a dog’s life!
Research the breed
To anyone thinking about getting a dog, research your breed. It is so common that we choose a dog because of how cute he is or we fall in love with him as an adorable puppy. Different breeds have different personalities and different energy levels. They have different exercise requirements for both their physical and mental energy. Make sure you find a breed that is a good match for your home environment and you.
Be sure
Having a dog is a big responsibility. You have to be there for him everyday. He will rely on you for food, shelter and love. If you’re ready, you’ll know, but avoid making an impulse decision.
Valentine’s Day brings out the love in all of us and the desire for companionship. We all want to be a Cupid to a Canine, but make sure you’re ready to make that longterm commitment. So many pets are adopted on holidays when our hearts are gushing with so much love to give. But so many of those pets are returned because we made impulse decisions before doing research and thinking it through.
Follow your heart. You’ll know when the time is right. You’ll know when the dog is right. We have so much love to give. Give it. Freely and abundantly. Remember, you can’t change the whole world by adopting a dog, but you can change the whole world for that dog.
