No-kill shelters have been criticized for skimming the cream of
abandoned dogs and letting public, tax-supported shelters deal
with all the sick, aggressive and elderly dogs.

There is truth to this. If you take Fido to a no-kill shelter, you
may be required to have a clean bill of health from a veterinarian
before the shelter will accept him. People who won't or can't afford
this leave Fido at the county shelter.

2. Owners May Not Have Told the Truth

The most common reasons given for turning in a dog is that
the owner is moving or divorcing and can't take Fido with him.

That may be true but begs the question of why didn't the
owner try to place the dog himself? If you paid $1000 for a
purebred or loved your dog, it's likely you'd try to find
a good home for him (if not resell him).

The dogs that wind up at shelters may be dogs that aren't
socialized or trained, and owners are too embarrassed
to admit their dog is out-of-control.

Some shelters claim they don't take puppy mill dogs, but
how could they possibly know the dog's background.

3. Some Adoptions Don't Take

Be sure to ask the shelter if the dog had been placed previously.
You may be surprised at how many dogs are re-homed and then
sent back to the shelter.

People mean well but if they don't have much experience with
dogs, they may be overwhelmed by how much time and effort
it takes to care for a normal dog, let alone one with behavior
problems.

4. Shelters Serve Their Needs, Not Yours

Financial support for a shelter is often tied to its success
in getting dogs adopted.

Some shelters permit adoptions of small dogs with behavior
problems that they would never allow in larger dogs.

If your local newspaper has columns on dog placements,
note how often the shelter claims all the dog needs is a
loving home, but he shouldn't be in homes with small children
or other pets.

5. Your Dog May Bark in Chinese

Thanks to the publicity campaigns to get people to spay
or neuter dogs, some shelters are running low on popular
small dogs and puppies. They ensure a sufficient supply
of adoptable dogs by importing them from foreign countries.

Visit the website of the Taipei Abandoned Animal Rescue
Foundation to see how happy they are to have placed
so many dogs in the United States from the Humane
Society of Snohomish County, WA to Pets Alive, a
no-kill shelter in Middletown, NY.

Shelters are exempt from many import laws and have
no federal requirements to quarantine the dogs or ensure
they are free of parasites and diseases before they place them.

Does that sound paranoid? Ask the six Massachusetts residents
who had to take rabies shots because a shelter imported a
rabid puppy from Puerto Rico. The puppy was too young to
have his rabies vaccinations completed, but shelters need
puppies to satisfy their clients.

6. Laws Don't Necessarily Apply to Non-Profits

Despite the hysteria you read about buying puppies
from pet shops, you should realize that at least pet stores
have to obey federal, state and local laws.

Often these laws do not apply to non-profits or community
shelters. State puppy lemon laws may not apply either.

The most frequent complaint I get about shelters/rescue
groups from would-be adopters is discrimination. One lady
was told that at 55-years of age she was too old to adopt
a puppy! Good luck finding an agency to investigate
a complaint.

Non-profits get away with things that would land Wal-Mart
in the headlines.

7. Shelters Are Not Dens

Not all dogs do well at shelters. Some dogs adjust
to kennel life but others become fearful, frustrated, and
overactive which makes them even less likely to be adopted.

It's also extremely difficult to prevent the spread of diseases
when you have so many dogs in one location. There's a reason
canine infectious tracheobronchitis is popularly known as
"kennel cough."

8. Old Dog, Big Dogs and Pit Bull-mixes Dominate

People often go to a county shelter for a puppy or small dog. What
you're most likely to find are old and frail dogs, big dogs and pit pull
mixes (assuming your area allows these for adoption).

Many people do not want to be bothered with a dog that requires ongoing medical care or isn't physically able to do the things they used to do.

Before you make a decision based only on sympathy, consider whether you have the financial resources and time to take on special needs dogs.

Look honestly at your lifestyle, environment and social life before you make an emotional choice.

If you're never had a dog before, this is not the time to adopt a fully
grown Pit Bull!

Bottom Line

My goal is not to convince you to avoid shelter dogs but to
encourage you to be realistic and put away the rose colored glasses.
These comments also only apply to shelters in the United States. Other countries have different processes.

The Internet is filled with romantic claptrap that would make you
think Lassie is waiting for you at the county shelter.

Happily-ever-after is more likely to happen if you are an experienced dog
owner with the time, understanding and patience to work on any
problems you encounter.

If you're inexperienced, you may be better off going to a rescue group
or breeder who can help match you with a dog suitable to your
personality and lifestyle.

They also can be a resource for you for the rest of your dog's life.