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Looking for a canine friend to welcome into your life? Adopt a puppy from the shelter!

IMHO, dogs are perhaps the most entertaining and lovable creatures around. All dogs are cute, loyal, curious and sensitive friends to mankind. Some people decide that they must have a thoroughbred dog, preferably with papers. Off they go, searching through the classifieds and pet shops for that paragon of a dog. While I like thoroughbreds too, I find that a visit to a pet shelter tugs at my heartstrings. Most often, these dogs aren't thoroughbreds, but what we commonly refer to as 'mutts', a mix of breeds. To my mind, these mutts are the best!

Thoroughbred dogs can be high strung and neurotic, albeit a perfect show pet. This can be a concern if you're looking for a family pet that's good with kids and isn't overly aggressive. On the other hand, when you adopt a puppy from the animal shelter, you've got dozens of absolutely unique and adorable personalities to choose from. Another factor to consider is that, while the 'fancy' puppies in the pet shops and from dog breeders advertising in the classifieds will always find a buyer and will never end up in a shelter, shelter puppies are in danger of being put down if they don't find a home. Of course, the shelter dog is not aware of his or her impending doom, but you are! When you adopt a puppy, you're literally saving his life!

This reminds me of the Disney classic, 'Lady and the Tramp'. Tramp was the pirate, the adventurer, full of fun, daring and with personality to burn. When Tramp and his friends stole some sausages from the butcher, where did they end up? In the pound. Fortunately, he was broken out and escaped his otherwise inevitable fate. In the end, the family of thoroughbred Lady 'adopted' Tramp and they all lived happily ever after. Now how cute were their puppies? When you adopt a puppy from the shelter, you're giving a big thumbs up to the puppies borne by Lady!

Mixed breed puppies are typically more stable in temperament, easier to train and housebreak and are as loyal and loving as a dog can be. Like Tramp, they're not encumbered with genetic flaws that might make them a less than perfect pet.

When you choose to adopt a puppy from the pound, it might be likened to choosing between a $8000 designer dress and a consignment shop retro costume. Which is more interesting? The designer number looks good in front of the paparazzi, but the retro costume has charisma!

If you're not yet convinced to adopt a puppy from the shelter, consider this: that thoroughbred puppy is going to cost you big time. The shelter puppy can become a member of your family for a virtual song. Besides, he's just so darned cute, he's irresistible. When you're looking for a canine companion, go to the animal shelter first. I bet you won't leave before you adopt a puppy.

My daughter wants a dog very badly, but it is simply out of the question for us at this point. I told her that we can get one some day, and when we do, we will adopt a dog if we can find the right one. There are plenty of places to get dogs, but I would prefer to rescue one that has lost their home as long as they are a good fit for our family. Many children ask for dogs as pets, and if you are in this situation, you might want to consider doing the same thing. When considering dogs, however, there are some things you should think about in regards to choosing the right one.

You have to think about the ages of your children when you adopt a dog. Not all breeds do well with children, but you can’t always go by breed. What is great about going to an animal shelter when you want to adopt a dog, or a cat for that matter, is that they have already figured out what families each dog is suited for. That means they can tell you which one will do well with your children and which ones might not have the temperament to deal with the excessive amounts of love that children sometimes like to give.

Another great thing about opting to adopt a dog from a shelter is that they have been seen by a veterinarian, and they should be up to date on shots and will have been spayed or neutered. You do have to pay for a dog you get from such a place, but the cost covers those things, and you usually pay less than if you were to get those things done on your own. If the dog has an illness, they already know about it, and they will never knowingly give you a pet that is sick and might die soon.

You may find that you have to go through a few things before they allow you to adopt a dog, but they do that to make sure you have the right home and circumstances to care for the pet properly. They may ask you all types of questions, and will want to know about children, other pets, and where you live. They may want to know if you plan to keep the dog inside, and other information that protects the dogs from the wrong families. It might seem like a lot to go through to adopt a dog, but when you do, you know you are getting a great pet that matches your lifestyle.

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