Not sure whether to adopt or rescue your new best friend? Many know that the decision to rescue or purchase a new puppy is a very difficult choice, and we are here to help gather the necessary information to make your decision!
ADOPTING A PUPPY
PROS:
Strong Bonding – When you adopt a newborn puppy from a store or breeder you get to experience the deepest bond of being involved in their formative young years. These early years pups are the most rambunctious and playful, within these years you will instill in them the comfort, and nurturing care every dog deserves. These early years your dog will want to explore and enjoy environments, sniff around, bite and chew all around them, teething, and get to experience the joy of watching them grow into an obedient, loyal new canine companion.
CONS:
TIME- When you adopt a new puppy you must ensure you have ample time to not only be there for their formative years, and provide positive reinforcements but to additionally be there to instill discipline and the necessary training and commands to ensure your puppy will be comfortable and calm/reserved and listen in dangerous or distracting situations.
COST – Alternatively to rescuing your new canine companion, adopting from a breeder or store is typically more expensive as there are adoption fees incurred. Additionally depending on whether a certain breed is desired many breeders can charge a premium based on the breed.
In many cases, some breeds can be purchased at around $500 all the way to perhaps $3000 on average, some breeds can be even more due to the nature of how they are born, and the scarcity of the breed. Additionally, if the puppy whom is typically received by the store is around 8-12 weeks of age there will only be a specific amount of booster shots received, and will require you to make sure you provide them with the following services from a vet.
- Veterinary wellness visit and exam $50-$250
- Spaying or neutering $150-300
- Distemper vaccination $20-30×2
- Rabies vaccination $15-25
- Heartworm test (for dogs) $15-35
- Feline Leukemia/FIV test (for cats) $30-50
- Flea/tick treatment $50-200
- Microchip $50
- Deworming $20-50
- Collar and an identification tag $5-10
Adoption Fee Info Courtesy of “PetFinder.com”
SOURCE: Although not every store or breeder is unethical, there are many that are not reputable many of these breeders or stores may source puppies from mills that create malnourished animals and treat puppies very poorly. In some scenarios, these mills, stores, and breeders may not have the best interests of the dogs in hand and over-breed certain dogs which can in turn create very ill puppies due to gene defects. Always be sure to ask your breeder or store for more information in regards to where your puppy was sourced, how many times the stud and bitch were used in breeding, and possibly even the location to ensure they are coming from safe, and caring sources that ensure you will be receiving a healthy puppy, and to stop the chain of harm towards dogs and potential owners.
RESCUE
PROS:
SOURCE: From and ethical standpoint the choice to rescue your puppy or dog comes from the source. You will be saving an dog that could have been rescued from many different scenarios. They could have been forced into a horrific environment such as being bred for dog fighting, abandonment, or even abuse from unfit and uncaring individuals unworthy of the privilege of owning a canine companion. You get to be the shining light in their life, and in return you receive a best friend, and loyal protector to yourself and your family.
Shelters may have limited resources, and limited time to care for certain animals and the more dogs rescued and saved will escape the possibility of something such as euthanization. Every dog deserves a good home, and loving family, and most of all you deserve their love.
TIME: Another benefit to adopting a rescue through a shelter or rescue group is the advantage that many of the dogs have some form of initial command training, and potty training in some capacity depending on the shelter or rescue group. Learning what method was used for the dogs when in their shelter will be beneficial for continuing the obedience training, but will not be as time consuming.
COST: The cost for rescuing a dog is significantly less as many of the dogs at a rescue group, or shelter have been vaccinated and have received many of their shots. Although it is still ideal to check in with a local veterinarian, and ensure they receive all their shots, and possibly ensure they are micro-chipped in the event that your dog runs away or needs to be located.
CONS:
BOND: The bond with your dog formed as a puppy will be absent if they are rescued however you will receive an even greater bond with them. You will be able to show even the most abused puppy the love and human compassion they deserve.
In Conclusion, whether you decide that forming a bond with a new puppy or rescuing a dog in need is your preferred choice. One thing is certain, all dogs are precious and you will do everything in your power to be the best dog parent they deserve!
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Happy Training!
-Dog Parent Academy
