DOWN EAST ANIMAL REFUGE

P.O. Drawer 40

Scotland Neck NC 27874

Adoption Considerations

Things to Consider before Adopting a Dog

1. Are any family members allergic to dogs? If you aren’t sure, have all family members
interact with the dog at the adoption center. Look for signs of an allergic reaction such as
sneezing, watery eyes, and rashes. It may take longer than a few minutes for any sort of
allergic reactions to become evident.

2. Are there any pets currently part of the family? If so, make sure the dog you would like to
adopt is compatible with your current pet(s). If you currently have a dog, you can bring the
dog to the adoption center and, with the help of a staff member or a volunteer, you can have
the dogs interact in one of the run areas to ensure they get along.

3. How long each day will the dog be left home alone? If your family is very busy and doesn’t
spend much time at home, adopt a pet other than a dog. Dogs are very social animals and
require attention and exercise.

4. If the yard is fenced in, will the fence be able to keep the dog in the yard? There are some
dogs who dig and others who jump or climb, so they can escape some fences.

5. Do the family members have enough time to play with, obedience train, housebreak, and
groom the dog (which includes trimming their nails)? Everyone in the family will need to
participate in this process and be consistent with the commands and discipline.

6. Can family members handle the dog? Untrained and larger dogs can be hard to control.

7. What is the size of your home and yard? Is the home and yard large enough for the dog’s
size and activity level?

8. Do you have an area of the yard the dog can call their own? Dogs need a place to go to the
bathroom and to run around. Expensive landscaping could be ruined.

9. Does the family’s activity level match that of the dog’s activity level? If your family is not
very active, then adopt a dog with a low activity level.

10. Do you have young children? Young children may not understand when they are being too
rough, so adopt a dog that can tolerate their rough play and has an even temperament. Try to
adopt a dog that has been around children.

11. Before adopting a dog, ensure all family members that the dog will be living with are
comfortable with the dog. Bring the whole family along when selecting a dog and have
everyone play with the dog in one of the dog runs outside.

12. Do you have the needed supplies for your new dog such as food, water bowl, food bowl,
collar, leash, brush, and toys?

13. Have you selected a veterinarian? Dogs require heartworm prevention, flea/tick control,
regular shots, and exams as well as treating any medical conditions that may arise.

14. Dogs bark – they are bred to bark. Some breeds bark more than others.

15. The majority of dogs shed. There will be dog hair throughout your home.

16. Interact and play with the dog before adopting. Don’t adopt soley upon how the dog looks or
the dog’s breed(s). Each dog has a unique personality.

17. If you go on vacation, do you have a place to board your pet or have a pet sitter?

18. If you plan on moving in the near future, will you be able to take the dog with you?

19. After interacting with a dog, if you still aren’t 100% sure this is the dog for you, please think
carefully about your decision – try interacting with another animal. We have quite a variety
of animals to choose from and the available animals change on a daily basis.

20. Most importantly, remember that when you adopt a dog, you are adopting a 10 – 20 year
financial commitment and responsibility, depending upon the dog’s current age.

Additional Things to Consider Before Adopting a Puppy

1. How large will the dog get to be? One good indication is the size of the puppy’s paws. Large
paws mean the puppy will grow to be a large dog. The puppy’s breed or mix of breeds is
another indication. If the puppy is 15 lbs or more at 10 weeks, the puppy will be at least a
medium or large sized adult dog (40+ lbs).

2. Puppies are teething, which means they need to chew. They usually chew whatever they can
get their paws on, which means some household items may be ruined.

3. Puppies need to be housebroken. You may need to get up in the middle of the night to let
them out. There will be accidents in the house until they are trained.

4. If you plan on installing or have already installed an invisible fence, these won’t work with a
puppy less than 6 months old.

5. It is highly recommended to take the puppy to obedience school as soon as the puppy is old
enough. Never let a puppy do anything “cute” as a puppy that won’t be “cute” as a full
grown adult, such as jumping on people.

6. If you have children, are they comfortable with the puppy chasing after them, play biting, and
the chewing and scratching? If your child is frightened by a puppy, recommend looking to
adopt an adult dog that has calmed down and will be more gentle.

Before adopting any dog, research the different breeds and determine what breeds best fit
into your lifestyle. Then, when choosing a dog, keep in mind what the dog was bred for,
which could be several things since the majority of our dogs aren’t pure bred. You can find
alot of information both on-line and at the library, such as the ASPCA’s book of mixed
breeds or the AKC’s book of purebreds. Another resource is a book called “Why We Love
the Dogs We Do” by Stanley Coren.

Once you have adopted your dog, try to read their body language –which is how a dog
communicates. An excellent resource for understanding a dog’s body language is “How to
Speak Dog” by Stanley Coren.